From left: Linda White and Randy Waldron
Virginia Tech College of Engineering
Virginia Tech’s College Association for Staff in Engineering (CASE) presented its 2012 awards to Linda White of electrical and computer engineering and to Randy Waldron of industrial and systems engineering.
White received CASE’s Administrative Award for her exceptional contributions to the department.
White was recognized for taking on new responsibilities, and "has done an outstanding job as she has stepped up to be our lead facilities person," said department head Scott Midkiff. After White's supervisor retired in 2010, the ECE department reorganized the management of instructional laboratories and facilities, giving White most of the responsibility for ECE facilities.
White now works with university facilities personnel on all the department's maintenance and renovation projects, overseeing everything from major renovations to routine maintenance. This past year, she managed the renovation of the space that has become ECE's Integrated Design Studio, the renovation of lab space for a new molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) system, and the move of a research laboratory from Torgersen Hall to Durham Hall.
"White has always been an outstanding member of the ECE department staff and has provided significant assistance to faculty, staff, and students in several roles. Over the last year, she has greatly expanded her role and her contributions," said Midkiff.
Waldron received the CASE’s Technical Award for his outstanding contributions.
Waldron, a laboratory instrument maker, designs and fabricates materials for departmental research projects. He is knowledgeable in the technology of metals, and is experienced in computer-operated equipment, including robotics. He has served as a laboratory instructor on occasion.
Don Taylor, ISE department head, said, “As a back-up instructor in our manufacturing processes course, Randy must be prepared to step into any required lecture at any time. He is knowledgeable of all the required activities and is highly praised by both students and his staff colleagues when he participates in classroom activities.”
One of the ISE students on a senior design team also praised Waldron’s technical skills, saying, “Randy helped my group fabricate a headrest that would allow for someone’s head to stay still for a company sponsor – Adaptive Technologies – to be able to make custom ear plugs.
“We met with him every day while he was working on it to check what he had completed and make sure everything was going to plan. Mr. Waldron did not hesitate to contact us and was extremely helpful and accommodating throughout the entire process.
“We believe he is deserving of this award; he obviously cares about students and went above and beyond his responsibilities in helping us with this project.”
Presenting both awards was Richard C. Benson, dean of the College of Engineering and the Paul and Dorothea Torgersen Chair of Engineering. Allison Rubio, executive secretary, mechanical engineering department, serves as the head of the 2011-12 CASE organization.