News Article
ChemE student one of two award winners from Iowa State
Korin Reid, a chemical engineering major, is one of two Iowa State University students—and four seniors overall at Regents’ universities in Iowa—to have been awarded the second annual Alliant Energy Erroll B. Davis Jr. award recognizing engineering or business students from underrepresented groups.
Reid, who is graduating from Iowa State after only three years, plans to pursue her interest in biomedical applications. “I was very excited to win and appreciative that I was recommended,” she said.
Besides Reid, the other winners are Beth Takemoto, an industrial engineering major at Iowa State; Gregory Scott, a mechanical engineering major at The University of Iowa; and Angelica Anderson, a finance major at The University of Northern Iowa. The students were honored at a lunch hosted by the regents during the March 11 board meeting in Iowa City.
According to Derrick Rollins, assistant dean for diversity in the College of Engineering at Iowa State, “Korin is very bright and a natural student leader. She is the kind of person that we would want to honor, and she has the potential to do wonderful things that will make Iowa State very proud.”
The award was created by Alliant to honor Davis, who served as chairman of the board of Alliant Energy Corporation from 2000-2006. Davis retired from his dual roles as president and CEO of Alliant to become chancellor of the University System of Georgia, where he oversees the state’ 35 public colleges and universities. The award, made possible through a gift of $400,000 from the Alliant Energy Foundation, recognizes its recipients’ academic achievement, leadership in campus and community organizations, and potential for future career success. As part of an agreement between the Alliant Energy Foundation and the regents’ institutions, the gift will ensure that the award is presented annually in perpetuity and will honor up to four students each year.
Each honoree receives a cash prize after her or his graduation.
Associate UI Provost Marcella David coordinated the application process and chaired the selection committee, which included Professor of Management Gerald Smith of UNI and Director of Undergraduate Support Services Karen Zunkel of Iowa State. “It is a great day,” said Smith, “when we can recognize the achievements of talented and committed students.”
James C. Hill, university professor and chair of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Iowa State, also offered his congratulations. “This is a wonderful recognition of their accomplishments as scholars and community leaders, and we hope that the awards serve not only to provide this recognition but also to inspire others,” he said. “We wish the winners continued success in their careers.”
