AAWRE Hosts 6th Annual Diplomate Ceremony

From front left: : AAWRE Past-President – Michael Ports, P.E., P.H., D.NE, D.WRE, AAWRE Treasurer – William Espey, Jr., Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, AAWRE President-Elect – S.K. Nanda, P.E., P.H., D.WRE, EWRI President – Udai Singh, D.Engr., BCEE, M.ASCE, AAWRE President – Kay Whitlock, P.E., D.WRE, AAWRE Founding President – Jeff Bradley, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, AAWRE Trustee – Kyle Schilling, P.E., BCEE, D.WRE, Dist.M.ASCE, Stavros Papadopulos, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, Daryoush Razavian, P.E., P.H., D.WRE Second row from left: Joe Bellini, P.E., P.H., D.WRE, Kevin Landwehr, P.E., D.WRE, Sufian Khondker, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, Bruce DeVantier, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, Chris Dunn, P.E., D.WRE, Yuming Jim Su, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, AAWRE Public Trustee – Kenneth Goodwin, Esq. Last row from left: Mark Henry Rubarenzya, Ph.D., P.Eng., D.WRE, Chris Trefry, P.E., P.H., D.WRE, Marcus Quigley, P.E., D.WRE, Jon Burgi, P.E., D.WRE, Ronald Chadderton, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, M. Ilyas Bhatti, P.E., D.WRE, William McMillin, Jr., P.E., D.WRE, Qizhong George Guo, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, James Li, Ph.D., P.Eng., D.WRE, Lyndel Melton, P.E., D.WRE, Chin Lien, P.E., D.WRE, Chris Ranck, P.E., BCEE, D.WRE, Elfatih Salim, P.E., BCEE, D.WRE.

May 17, 2010 - The American Academy of Water Resources Engineers (AAWRE) held their 6^th Annual Diplomate Induction ceremony as part of the EWRI 2010 World Water and Environmental Resources Congress on May 17 in Providence, Rhode Island. This ceremony was AAWRE's sixth consecutive ceremony held at the annual EWRI Congress since the creation of AAWRE in October 2004 and the annual ceremony has become a regular and consistent event at EWRI’s annual conference.

At this year's ceremony in Providence, AAWRE inducted two new honorary diplomates, John J. Cassidy, Ph.D., P.E., Dist.M.ASCE, NAE, Hon.D.WRE, from Walnut Creek, CA, and Muketeswara Gopalakrishnan, Hon.D.WRE, from New Delhi, India, and all new diplomates from fall 2009 and thru this spring 2010. The Academy also gave special tribute to ASCE Distinguished Member, EWRI Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and one of the first Honorary Diplomates, the late Dr. Warren Bud Viessman.

AAWRE Director – John J. Segna, P.E., BCEE, QEP, M.ASCE, Environmental & Water Resources Institute (EWRI) President – Udai P. Singh, D.Engr., BCEE, M.ASCE, AAWRE Trustee and EWRI Past-President – Kyle E. Schilling, P.E., BCEE, D.WRE, Dist.M.ASCE; and AAWRE President – P. Kay Whitlock, P.E., D.WRE, M.ASCE, participated in the ceremony remarks.

AAWRE Director, John Segna began the ceremony by welcoming all attendees and announcing the logistics for how the Diplomate will be inducted during the evening. Mr. Segna introduced EWRI President, Udai Singh, and Mr. Singh addressed the audience with a familiar message and theme. Mr. Singh thanked AAWRE and the EWRI members for supporting the EWRI Congress and for partnering with EWRI on its Congresses. As in past ceremonies (as EWRI Presidents have participated) Mr. Singh stressed the significance of the partnership between AAWRE and EWRI, and stated that EWRI fully supports AAWRE's mission in recognizing advanced, post-licensure certification for water resources engineers. Singh stated that EWRI will continue to support AAWRE and hopes for the continuing collaboration of EWRI and AAWRE in future Congresses.

Photography courtesy of Robert Dosdourian and Ocean State Photography
www.Oceanstatephotography.com

The formal portion of the ceremony began with current AAWRE Trustee, Kyle Schilling providing personal thoughts and a personal heartfelt tribute to the late Dr. Warren Vissman, who was a mentor and friend to Kyle for over 40 years. Dr. Viessman died on April 8; he was 79 years old. Mr. Schilling stated “We all loved him and we miss him dearly.”

The Academy also recognized and congratulated AAWRE Diplomates for receiving various EWRI Awards at the 2010 Congress. First class Diplomate, Conrad Keyes, Sc.D., P.E., D.WRE, Dist.M.ASCE and Kyle E. Schilling for receiving the 2010 EWRI Lifetime Achievement Awards; AAWRE founding member and Past-President – Michael A. Ports, P.E., P.H., D.WRE, F.ASCE, for the EWRI Service to the Institute Award; Donald Frevert, P.E., D.WRE for Arid lands Hydraulic Engineering Award; Ni-Bin Chang, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE for Outstanding Achievement Award; Lindell Ormsbee, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE for Service to the Profession Award; and Terry Howell, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE and his team for Best Honorable Mention Paper.

As a customary portion of the Induction Ceremony, the new Honorary Diplomates for 2010, Dr. Cassidy and Mr. Gopalakrishan were recognized and honored by President Whitlock, with a tribute for each honorary diplomate during the ceremony. Both were awarded a medallion, certificate, and lapel pin for their achievements. Dr. Cassidy, accompanied by Ms. Charlotte Howard was in attendance at the ceremony to accept his recognition and honor. Mr. Gopalakrishnan could not attend so his awards were accepted by AAWRE President-Elect – S.K. Nanda, P.E., P.H., D.WRE, who provided the memorable and humorous moment of the ceremony, with an impromptu acceptance speech.

Dr. Cassidy and Mr. Gopalakrishnan are only the 19th and 20th individuals respectively to be awarded the honorary status by AAWRE, since its inception in 2004. The Honorary Diplomate designation is bestowed on outstanding individuals who meet one or more of the following criteria: the individual(s) have attained a position of eminence in the water resources engineering profession, have made a singular noteworthy achievement or sustained noteworthy contributions to the advancement of water resources engineering profession, or have rendered outstanding service over a sustained period of time to the work of the Academy.

For the Diplomate induction portion of the ceremony AAWRE founding member and Past-Trustee, Jerry R. Rogers, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, Dist.M.ASCE; AAWRE Treasurer and founding member – William H. Espey, Jr., Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE; and S.K. Nanda conducted the presentation of the certificates and lapel pins to all new Diplomates. Professor Rogers did the honors of reading the names of all new Inductees. Special Diplomate lapel pins and certificates of special knowledge were awarded to each of the new diplomates from fall 2009 thru spring 2010 to commemorate their achievement. All new inductees got an opportunity to take personal pictures with Kay Whitlock and Udai Singh, and a formal group picture was taken of all new diplomates with AAWRE founding members and trustees.

The ceremony was followed by a reception for all in attendance- as families, friends, and colleagues of the honored congratulated the new diplomates. AAWRE plans to host a Diplomate Induction ceremony in the fall 2010 for first time, however, time and location has not yet been determined. The annual Diplomate Induction ceremony for EWRI Congress 2011, set to be held in May 2011 in Palm Springs, California will go on as an annual event during EWRI Congress week.

AAWRE's mission is to improve the practice, elevate standards, and advance the profession of water resources engineering by certifying engineers with specialized knowledge in water resources, recognizing the ethical practice of water resources engineering at the expert level, encouraging continued professional development for engineers, and supporting positions on water resources issues important to the public health.

The Diplomate, Water Resources Engineer (D.WRE) credential program is the first voluntary, post-licensure, advanced-level specialty certification program created under Civil Engineering Certification, Inc. (CEC). Since the start of the AAWRE Diplomate program in October 2004, over 550 professional engineers have achieved the Diplomate, Water Resources Engineer (D.WRE) credential.

American Academy of Water Resources Engineers
1801 Alexander Bell Drive, Reston, VA 20191 USA
Phone:703-295-6414 Fax:703-295-6415
E-mail:certification@aawre.org