2024 Alumni Award Recipients
The College of Aeronautics and Engineering at Â鶹´«Ã½ celebrated outstanding achievement and dedication at its annual awards ceremony Envision24 on Thursday, November 7, recognizing distinguished alumni, corporate partners, faculty, staff, and students.
Distinguished Alumni Award
Kris Palcho - Kris earned the Distinguished Alumni Award for her remarkable contributions to aviation safety at the FAA, where she has served for over two decades in roles advancing general aviation operations and safety programs at both local and national levels.
Distinguished Contributor Award
Vic '71, '74, '06 and Cheryl Petrovic ‘74 - The Petrovic Family Aeronautics and Engineering Fund supports crucial student experiences including the Precision Flight Team competitions and Air Race Classic teams.
Outstanding Faculty Award
Tim Palcho - Tim received the Outstanding Faculty Award for his more than two decades of dedication to aviation education at Kent State, having guided over 2,500 students through flight training.
Outstanding Mentor Award
Maureen "Mo" McFarland, Ph.D. ’17 - A former Marine, McFarland was recognized for her unique approach combining military experience with dedicated academic guidance.
Outstanding Staff Award
Jamie Walker Hale - Honored for her exceptional student support.
Tim Kyer - Honored for his skilled leadership in business operations.
Van Deusen Award
Brooks ‘84 and Mary Weingart - The couple's establishment of an endowed scholarship and membership in Kent State’s Herrick Society exemplifies their dedication to engineering education, ensuring their impact will continue for generations to come.
Young Alumni Award
Joshua Cherok - Cherok currently serves as Manager of Aircrew Training Administration at Flexjet, while also teaching as an adjunct professor at Kent State.
Dexter Shreve - Shreve owns and operates Day Piston Company in Cleveland, where he applies the hands-on experience gained at Kent State to drive manufacturing innovation.
Corporate Hall of Fame
- Southwest Airlines - Recognized for their partnership in the Destination 225° program and support of the professional pilot program.
- Dabos, Inc. - Honored for their sponsorship of key college initiatives including the Advanced Air Mobility Conference.