College Recognizes Distinguished Alumni
Engineering Alumni Society president Robert Merkert ’59 EE welcomes more than 100 guests to the Annual Engineering Alumni Awards Reception.
On November 14, the Villanova University Engineering Alumni Society (EAS) hosted its 39th annual Engineering Alumni Awards reception. Timed to coincide with Homecoming Weekend, more than 100 guests joined the festivities on campus in the Connelly Center’s Villanova Room. Family and friends, faculty and staff, current students and fellow alumni were in attendance to recognize recipients of the 2015 awards, which are presented to alumni who exemplify service, leadership, excellence, stewardship and technical advancement in the field of engineering.
Four of the alumni awards are named in honor of the College of Engineering’s past deans:
The J. Stanley Morehouse Memorial Award: Presented in memory of Dean J. Stanley Morehouse (1938–1961), this award recognizes outstanding leadership at the highest level. The 2015 recipient is John F. Hartner ’85 ME, Chief Operating Officer of EnvisionTec Inc. Hartner serves on the Engineering Advisory Board and as the College Chair of For the Greater Great: The Villanova Campaign to Ignite Change.
2015 EAS Award recipients: The Rev. Peter M. Donahue, OSA, PhD, ’75 CLAS, President; Gerard “Gerry” Fasano ’87 EE, ’90 MSEE; Brian H. Lange ’88 ME, PE; John F. Hartner ’85 ME; Patsy “Pat” Aguanno ’56 CE, PE; Nicholas Piazzola ’68 EE; Andrew Blasetti ’04 CE, ’06 MSCE; John “J.P.” Gunn ’10 ME; Melissa Morea Evola ’94 CE; Jenny Papatolis Johnson ’03 ChE, ’06 JD; Joseph Callaghan ’59 CE, ’63 MSCE; Drosdick Endowed Dean of Engineering, Gary A. Gabriele, PhD. (Not pictured: Timothy Arcuri ’93 ChE, and Joseph R. Brady ’15 ChE)
The John J. Gallen Memorial Award: In honor of Dean John J. Gallen (1961–1975), this award recognizes the technical achievements of an alumnus who graduated from the College less than 15 years ago. The 2015 recipient is Andrew Blasetti ’04 CE, ’06 MSCE. Blasetti is an Associate with Thornton Thomasetti, where he leads the Philadelphia design team on the city’s new Comcast Innovation and Technology Center.
The Carl T. Humphrey Memorial Award: Presented in memory of the College’s first dean, Carl T. Humphrey (1920–1938), this award recognizes the professional achievements of an alumnus who earned a master’s degree from the College more than five years ago. The 2015 recipient is Gerard “Gerry” Fasano ’87 EE, ’90 MSEE. Fasano is Vice President, Strategy & Business Development, and General Manager of Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Solutions’ Valley Forge, Pa. facility.
Presented at the College’s Recognition Ceremony in May, The Robert D. Lynch Award honors Dean R.D. Lynch (1975–2000) and acknowledges a graduating senior for outstanding academic achievements and exemplary dedication to serving the community. The 2015 recipient, Joseph R. Brady ’15 ChE, is pursuing his doctorate in Chemical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he holds a graduate research fellowship with the David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research.
Professional achievement awards recognize contributions to technology and technological fields. 2015 recipients are:
- Patsy “Pat” Aguanno ’56 CE, PE
- Timothy Arcuri ’93 ChE
- Brian H. Lange ’88 ME, PE
- Nicholas Piazzola ’68 EE
Meritorious service awards are presented to alumni who have provided continuing support to the College of Engineering. This year’s honored alumni are:
- Joseph Callaghan ’59 CE, ’63 MSCE
- John “J.P.” Gunn ’10 ME
- Melissa Morea Evola ’94 CE
- Jenny Papatolis Johnson ’03 ChE, ’06 JD