Outstanding Student, Faculty, and Alumnus Recognized

The BSEN department honored its 2005 Outstanding Student, Faculty Member, and Alumnus at the Engineering Honors Reception and Awards Ceremony held on March 18 ^th in Auburn. Ms. Sarah Sanders was selected by faculty as the Outstanding Student. Sarah, who is from Brundidge, AL, has distinguished herself through an extensive record of campus involvement, research and work experience, and many honors and awards. Sarah is a member of the Ginn College of Engineering's Cupola Society, where she is the Director of Selections and the Chair of the College of Engineering World Food Program Committee. She serves as Vice President and Engineering Council Representative for the ASAE Student Branch. She has worked as a research assistant in the food and bioprocess engineering area in the Biosystems Engineering Department. She analyzed data and contoured MRI images in the biomedical imaging lab in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Finally, during the Summer of 2004, Sarah served as a congressional intern in Congressman Terry Everett's office in Washington, D.C. Her numerous honors and awards include induction into Tau Beta Pi, Phi Eta Sigma, Golden Key, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Gamma Sigma Delta, Alpha Lambda Delta, and the Dean's Honor Roll.

Dr. Oladiran Fasina was selected by the students as the Outstanding Faculty Member. Dr. Fasina, who is an Assistant Professor of BSEN, has developed a scholarly program that focuses on food and bioprocess engineering, with particular emphasis on adding value to biological products. He has gained the respect of his students through his classroom teaching and by bringing the latest food and bioprocess engineering technology into the classroom. He has taught at least one course (and many times two courses) every fall and spring semester since beginning work at Auburn. In addition, he has served as the advisor to the student branch of ASAE, the society for engineering in agricultural, food, forest, and biological systems. More importantly, he has helped teach food engineering courses, on a voluntary basis, at Tuskegee University so that they can achieve accreditation by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT). In his research program, Dr. Fasina has been able to develop new initiatives in pelletizing biomaterials such as biomass energy crops and poultry litter. Dr. Fasina has an impressive publication record with three book chapters, over 30 refereed journal articles, and numerous other written papers in meeting proceedings. He has secured $444,000 in extramural funding from nine different grants.

Dr. Eldridge Collins (BS Auburn '62; PhD Auburn, '71), of Blacksburg, VA was selected as the Outstanding Alumnus. Dr. Collins is Professor Emeritus and former Extension Agricultural Engineer in the Biological Systems Engineering Department at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University where he served for 30 years, and where he served as Departmental Extension Project Leader for 14 years. He is well known for his research and advisory contributions in the area of pollution stemming from animal production facilities. Collins established an international reputation as an authority in the areas of agricultural waste management and water quality, and livestock systems/facilities. He served on the National Pork Industry Handbook Advisory Committee for many years, and contributed extensively to the literature of his profession, authoring more than 150 publications. He translated his knowledge and experience to practitioners and government agencies at the state and national levels. His testimony and committee service on environmental issues greatly benefited Virginia agriculture and effectively contributed to the legislative process. A dedicated member of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE) for 47 years, Collins' committee work included various roles on thirteen ASAE committees, and he proceeded through the full cycle of offices for seven of those committees. He served as the Structures and Environment Division editor of Transactions of the ASAE for over 5 years, and served as Associate Editor for the Soil and Water Division. He received many honors and awards from various state and U.S. agencies and other societies, including U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator's 1992 Award for contributions in education, communication, and technology transfer in pollution prevention. ASAE honors have included five ASAE Educational Aids Blue Ribbon awards, various Structures and Environment, and Soil and Water Division awards and an ASAE paper award. He was elected a Fellow in ASAE in 2000, and holds membership in various honorary societies including Phi Kappa Phi, Gamma Sigma Delta, and Sigma Xi.