Engineer of the Year

Gerald Heuring

Gerald Heuring is a faculty member in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at The University of Toledo, joining UT as a faculty member in 1987. He completed the Ph.D. in Computer Science at the University of Illinois in 1993.

Jerry taught several undergraduate Computer Science courses as an MS student at UT. In addition to having taught almost all CSE courses as a faculty member he was Principle Investigator of a National Science Foundation funded project supporting undergraduate instruction in Software Engineering. Using funding from NSF, Jerry and an associate have developed a Product Development laboratory which takes students through the complete software development cycle as part or their required design course.

He served as Undergraduate Director for Computer Science and Engineering from 1995 until 1998 and resumed this position in February 2002 under the current department chair after serving as Interim Department Chair during 2001. He has served as advisor for the ACM Student Chapter at UT for a number of years, and regularly coaches the UT student programming competition team.

Students nominated Jerry for a University of Toledo Outstanding Teacher Award which he received in 1995.

Outstanding Service Award

Larry Reitz

Larry is a technical entrepreneur who has worked with a number of local and national clients in the CAD, graphics and high-speed networking arenas. Larry started several companies to market and install high performance computer systems and security systems. Larry has arranged a number of technical presentations for the Toledo Section with his many contacts in the high tech community. In addition to serving as Chair of the Toledo Section in 1997, Larry has held many positions on the Executive Committee. He has been the key contact with our newsletter advertising and has been instrumental in many of the Toledo Section's efforts for philanthropic, technical, and educational programs.

Outstanding Student Awards

Tiffany Eklics (First Place Award)

Tiffany graduated in December 2002. She served as President of the UT IEEE Student Branch during 2002, had three semesters of co-op experience with GE Industrial Systems, is a member of Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity and volunteered for Juvenile Diabetic Research Foundation.

Her plans following graduation are pursuit of an MBA, employment with an industrial systems and control group, and, ultimately, a managerial position.

Michelle Bayura (Second Place Award)

Michelle specialized in control systems and pursued a minor in Business Administration. She did three semesters of co-op experience, was listed on the Dean’s Merit List, and participated in several Professional and Honor Societies (IEEE, Society of Women Engineers, Etta Kappa Nu, and Golden Key International Honors Society). Michelle plans to study for an MBA and hopes for a professional career with one of the big three automotive companies.