Five Kettering University students will be recognized at the Spring 2013 Honors Breakfast prior to commencement ceremonies on June 8.
Awards bestowed include the President’s Medal, which recognizes scholarship, professionalism on the job and community involvement; Sobey Scholars, a distinction presented to students elected to robots and one of our academic honor societies; and the Outstanding Thesis Award.
Here are the students who will be recognized along with the awards they’ll be receiving:
Kristen Russell
Awards: President’s Medal; Sobey Scholar; Russell is the undergraduate student speaker at the June 2013 Commencement ceremony
Hometown: Tunkhannock, Penn.; Homeschooled
Major: Mechanical Engineering (specialty in Bioengineering), minor in Biochemistry
Co-Op: Zimmer Inc. in Warsaw, Ind.
Organizations: Academic Council, Kettering CRU, Intercity Children's Programs, Pre-Med Club, KSG Senator and RA in Thompson Hall
Honors Societies: Robots & Tau Beta Pi
Post-graduation plans: This summer, Russell will start medical school at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. She plans to someday practice medicine overseas in under-served areas.
Kayla Ellene Whittemore
Awards: President’s Medal; Sobey Scholar
Hometown: Shoreham, Vt.; Middlebury Union High School
Major: Industrial Engineering, minor in Business
Co-Op: GE Aviation in Rutland, Vt., as a Manufacturing Engineering co-op in the Tool Room;GE Aviation in Lynn, Mass., as a Manufacturing Programs co-op in Military Systems
Community Involvement: AmeriCorps Michigan Service Scholar - completed more than 300 hours of community service in one academic year promoting higher education to K-12 students specifically in the STEM field and received the Michigan Campus Compact Commitment to Service Award; Outstanding Student Civic Engagement Award - award from the city of Flint recognizing the depth and commitment to service within the Flint community.
Organizations: Alpha Phi, Kagle Leadership Initiatives, Student Alumni Council, Student Ambassadors, Society of Women Engineers, Institute of Industrial Engineers
Post-graduation plans: Starting full-time with GE Aviation in the Operation Management Leadership Program and pursuing a Master's in Supply Chain Management from Penn State University.
Keishawna Mykale Baker
Award: President’s Medal
Hometown: Detroit, Mich.; Belleville High School
Major: Electrical Engineering
Co-Op: General Motors and Consumers Energy
Other awards received: Woman of the Year First Runner-Up 2011; Delta Sigma Theta Soror of the Year 2013
Organizations: National Society of Black Engineers, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Kappa Mu Epsilon Honor Society
Post-graduation plans: Baker currently works full-time for Consumers Energy in HVD Planning West inside of their Engineering Entry Program (EEP), where she does six month rotations to four different departments around the state. After graduating from the program, she will be able to choose the position she would like to stay in. She plans to take the FE Exam in October.
Meredith Brassell
Award: Sobey Scholar
Hometown: Whitehouse, Ohio; Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Ohio
Major: Electrical Engineering, minor in Computer Engineering
Co-Op: TRW Automotive in Farmington Hills, MI
Other honors received: Woman of the Year 2012; Member of the Robot Society; Dean's List
Organizations: Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority, realSERVICE Club, Relay for Life Committee, President's Student Advisory Council, Student Senate, KSG Operations Council
Post-graduation plans: Brassell is currently working for Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America in Saline, Mich.
Steven Charles Kukulis
Award: Outstanding Thesis Award
Hometown: Grand Rapids, Mich.; Caledonia High School
Thesis title: “Robotic Welding Cost Reduction Project”
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Lucy King
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Co-Op: Flexco
Organizations: Pi Kappa Alpha
Post-graduation plans: Kukulis is currently looking for full-time employment. He has already had several interviews in the Tool & Die industry and is awaiting an offer. He is considering taking some Tool & Die related classes in the future in the Grand Rapids area.