The cocktails and sparkling bubbly were flowing Thursday, June 6 as the University Houston Engineering Alumni Association (EAA) hosted its annual gala at the Bayou City Event Center.
The Engineering Alumni Awards program, established in 1987, recognizes alumni, faculty and friends of the Cullen College and the EAA for significant contributions to society and the engineering profession.
UH engineering welcomed more than 300 guests to the Magnolia ballroom, bedecked with elegant décor, themed cocktails and silver linens surrounded by exquisite fresh flowers, soft lights and enchanting live music provided by Moores School of Music Jazz Trio.
The Engineering Alumni Association’s current president, Sebastian Hernandez, P.E., welcomed guests and spoke briefly about the mission of the alumni board. Joseph W. Tedesco, Elizabeth D. Rockwell Dean of the Cullen College, then provided a brief update on successes of the Cullen College, including the progress of the UH Katy campus.
The evening also featured special video presentations introducing this year’s honorees, Heidi Alderman, Debora Rodrigues, Ph.D., Ryan J. Baird, Carol K. Schmidt, P.E., Charles N. Grichar, P.E. and The Honorable Dennis R. Paul, P.E.
The EAA recognized and honored William A. Brookshire, Ph.D. (BSChE ’57) † with the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award for his unwavering commitment, kindness and dedication to UH engineering students through his generous scholarship fund.
Proceeds raised from the event will help the EAA provide scholarships to exemplary UH engineering students and further the goals of the alumni association.
Watch our videos below to learn more about this year’s honorees:
Lifetime Achievement Award
William A. Brookshire, Ph.D. (BSChE ’57) †
Co-Founder & Chairman
S&B Engineers & Constructors, Ltd.
Distinguished Engineering Alumni Awards
Charles N. Grichar, P.E. (BSChE ’73)
Corporate Legal Liaison — Retired
National Oilwell Varco, Inc.
The Honorable Dennis R. Paul, P.E. (BSCE ’86, MSCE ’91)
Texas State Representative for House District 129 in Harris County
Entrepreneur/Innovation Award
Ryan J. Baird (BSEE ’01)
Founder & President
Johnson Street Partners
Distinguished Young Engineer Alumni Award
Carol K. Schmidt, P.E. (BSChE ’07)
Project Engineer
Wood
Abraham E. Dukler Distinguished Engineering Faculty Award
Debora Rodrigues, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
UH Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Roger Eichhorn Service Award
Heidi Alderman
Senior Vice President, Chemical Intermediates, North America
BASF Corporation
Special thanks to our 2019 UH EAA GALA Sponsors:
SIGNATURE SILVER
Jim L. Culpepper & Associates, P.C.
National Oilwell Varco
Charles N. Grichar, P.E.
Centerpoint Energy
Wood
DISTINGUISHED
S&B Engineers & Constructors
S&B Infrastructure, Ltd.
Ewing & Jones, PLLC
SUPPORTING SPONSOR
PRD Land Development Services, LLC
BASF Corporation
Carol K. Schmidt, P.E. & Nathan Schmidt, P.E.
The Honorable Dennis R. Paul, P.E. & Mrs. Eliza Paul, P.E.
Coleto Creek Whiskey & Ryan J. Baird
Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc.
Cobb, Fendley & Associates, Inc.
Fluor Corporation
Dannenbaum Engineering Corporation
Tenaris
HR Green, Inc
UH Electrical & Computer Engineering Department
UH Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Department
UH Civil & Environmental Engineering Department
UH Biomedical Engineering Department
UH Mechanical Engineering Department
UH Petroleum Engineering Department
UH PROMES
PATRON SPONSOR
Cynthia Oliver Coleman, P.E.
BGE, Inc.
Shirley & Charles Roxburgh
Geotech Engineering & Testing
Michael A. Ramos & Mackrena Ramos, P.E.
Rebecca & Michael Lacy, P.E.
SIGNATURE DRINK SPONSOR
Coleto Creek Whiskey Founded By Ryan J. Baird
EAA CONTRIBUTORS
Carol K. Schmidt, P.E. & Nathan Schmidt, P.E.
The Cullen Foundation
Pamela Anderson, P.E.
Steven E. Simmons, P.E.
Join us for the 2019 EAA Annual Meeting on August 22, 2019 at Saint Arnold Brewing Company.
To view photos from this year’s gala, click here.
To learn more about the Engineering Alumni Association, click here.