AAWRE Hosts Special Fall Ceremony at ASCE Annual Conference

From front left: Alfonso Blanco, P.E., D.WRE; ASCE Immediate Past-President, Blaine Leonard, P.E., D.GE, F.ASCE; ASCE President, Kathy Caldwell, P.E., M.ASCE; ASCE Past-President, D. Wayne Klotz, P.E., D.WRE, F.ASCE. Second row from left: AAWRE Past-President, Dan Boyd, P.E., D.WRE, M.ASCE; AAWRE Trustee, William Espey, Jr., Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, M.ASCE; E. George Robison, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, M.ASCE; Victoria Harkins, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, M.ASCE; Tim Osting, P.E., D.WRE, M.ASCE; Rocky Keehn, P.E., LEED AP, D.WRE, M.ASCE; AAWRE President-Elect, S.K. Nanda, P.E., P.H., D.WRE, M.ASCE. Last row from left: David Jaffe, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, M.ASCE; AAWRE President, Kay Whitlock, P.E., D.WRE, F.ASCE; David Harkins, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, M.ASCE; Darren Olson, P.E., D.WRE, M.ASCE; Kenneth Steele, P.E., D.WRE, M.ASCE.

October 22, 2010 - The American Academy of Water Resources Engineers hosted a special Fall Diplomate Ceremony during the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 140^th Annual Conference in Las Vegas on October 22. The special ceremony was the first-ever ceremony held in the fall season, the seventh AAWRE ceremony overall and featured three most recent ASCE Presidents. AAWRE recognized all new Diplomate, Water Resources Engineers from its 2010 class and bestowed special recognitions to past two ASCE Presidents, Blaine D. Leonard, P.E., D.GE, F.ASCE and D. Wayne Klotz, P.E., D.WRE, F.ASCE, and bestowed special recognitions to AAWRE founding member, William H. Espey, Jr., Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, M.ASCE, AAWRE Past-President, Daniel W. Boyd, P.E., D.WRE, M.ASCE, and AAWRE Board member, Erika P. Moonin, P.E., D.WRE, M.ASCE.

The new ASCE President for 2010-11 - Kathy J. Caldwell, P.E., M.ASCE, AAWRE President - P. Kay Whitlock, P.E., D.WRE, F.ASCE, and AAWRE President-Elect - S.K. Nanda, P.E., P.H., D.WRE, M.ASCE participated in the ceremony remarks.

AAWRE President Kay Whitlock began the ceremony by welcoming all attendees and thanking the presence of all special guests in the audience. Ms. Whitlock introduced AAWRE President-Elect, S.K. Nanda. Mr. Nanda welcomed the audience and enthusiastically set up the introduction of the newly installed ASCE President, Kathy Caldwell. Ms. Caldwell had been installed as the ASCE President several hours earlier at the ASCE Board of Direction meeting. Following the tradition of participation of ASCE Presidents in past AAWRE ceremonies, Ms. Caldwell provided the central address of the evening's ceremony as she thanked AAWRE for the opportunity to participate.

Ms. Caldwell remarked:

I am honored to be participating in this first fall AAWRE ceremony as the new ASCE President. AAWRE was the first specialty certification program created out of ASCE and AAWRE has been the catalyst in paving the way for 3 additional certification programs. AAWRE Diplomates are considered to be the “Best of the Best” of professional engineers working in the field of water resources engineering today. The Diplomate certification program was created to support ASCE's initiative to “raise the bar” in the civil engineering profession and is consistent with our Vision for Civil Engineering of the future.

Congratulations to all new inductees of the Academy and we congratulate AAWRE on completion of its 6th year of operations. Thank you for this opportunity to participate in this special ceremony.

AAWRE recognized and congratulated AAWRE Diplomates for receiving various notable ASCE Awards at the 140^th ASCE Annual Conference Leadership Luncheon and Society Awards earlier that day. AAWRE founding Diplomate, Christopher B. Burke, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, F.ASCE for receiving the Edmund Friedman Professional Award; Joe Manous, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, F.ASCE for receiving the Professional Practice Ethics and Leadership Award; and Honorary Diplomate, Vijay P. Singh, Ph.D., Sc.D., P.E., P.H., Hon.D.WRE, F.ASCE, Tommaso Moramarco, M.ASCE and Claudia Pandolfo for receiving the Norman Medal.

For the main special recognition portion of the ceremony, the two most recent ASCE Presidents, Blaine Leonard and Wayne Klotz were recognized and honored by President Whitlock, with a brief tribute for each. Blaine Leonard was accompanied by wife, Jann Leonard and Wayne Klotz was accompanied by wife, Karen Klotz. On behalf of the Civil Engineering Certification, Inc. (CEC), Blaine Leonard was recognized for his leadership, service and contributions to advocate professional specialty certification in civil engineering and Wayne Klotz was recognized for his service, leadership and contributions to further AAWRE's and ASCE's mission and goals in raising the level of standards for civil engineers.

Kay Whitlock remarked on Blaine Leonard:

If you have been reading his Blog page, President's Column, and spoken to him personally - this man has greatly elevated conversation, awareness, and dialogue about the importance of specialty certification- and how professional certification greatly complements 'Civil Engineering - Vision 2025'. This past year, among many great things, he has been a great Advocate for professional certification. Thank you, President Leonard.

Ms. Whitlock stated the following on Wayne Klotz:

This individual has greatly advocated for and championed for professional certification for water resources engineers and greatly contributed to AAWRE's mission to elevate the level of standards in civil engineering. Particularly the need for water resources engineers to raise their level of competency and professional standards. AAWRE is proud to bestow this special recognition award to President Wayne Klotz, for his service, leadership and contributions to further AAWRE's and ASCE's mission and goals in raising the level of standards for civil engineers.

Both were presented a special glass Globe geodesic statue by President Whitlock and President Caldwell and had pictures taken by ASCE photographer David Hathcox.

For the Diplomate induction portion of the ceremony, Kay Whitlock, Bill Espey and S.K. Nanda conducted the presentation of the certificates and lapel pins to the new Diplomates in attendance. Special Diplomate lapel pins and certificates of special knowledge were awarded to each of the new Diplomates to commemorate their achievement. About twelve new inductees were in attendance for their recognition.

For the final portion of the ceremony, AAWRE also gave thanks and special recognitions to Bill Espey, Dan Boyd, and Erika Moonin for their years of service and willingness to lead and help further the goals of the Academy with special Water rapids statues. Erika Moonin, who served on the original AAWRE Task Committee, serves as Chair of the Admissions Committee and served on the local Las Vegas ASCE annual conference organizing committee. Founding member, Dr. Bill Espey who also served on the original Task Committee and served as AAWRE Treasurer and AAWRE Past-President, Dan Boyd for his contributions and leadership to lead AAWRE to new heights. Mr. Boyd and Dr. Espey accepted their special award statues- both were accompanied by their wives, Jill Boyd and JoAnn Espey.

Kay Whitlock stated the following:

Now we would like to recognize these following individuals for their contributions, service and willingness to lead and help further the goals of the Academy:

Erika Moonin- who served on our Task Committee from very beginning to create this Academy and served on organizing committee to help with this year's ASCE conference.

Dr. Bill Espey- who also served on the original Task Committee from the start and has served as our Treasurer and founding member. Thank you, Bill.

And last but not least, our Past-President, Dan Boyd, who has served brilliantly as our President and taken our organization to another level in furthering AAWRE's mission and visibility. We thank you, Dan.

The evening concluded with a group picture of the new Diplomate inductees with the three ASCE Presidents and AAWRE officers. AAWRE plans to host its annual Diplomate Induction ceremony on May 24^th during the EWRI Congress 2011 in Palm Springs, California.

American Academy of Water Resources Engineers
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Phone:703-295-6414 Fax:703-295-6415
E-mail:certification@aawre.org

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