May 14, 2009

Two engineering students win national awards

by Tim Crosby

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Two engineering students at Southern Illinois University Carbondale won national awards aimed at helping them pursue their academic fields of study.

Chris S. Williams, a senior in civil and environmental engineering from West Frankfort, won the Phi Kappa Phi Graduate Fellowship. Williams is one of just 60 students selected nationwide for the honor. The fellowship is worth $5,000, which Williams plans to use at the University of Texas at Austin this fall.

Williams is a member of the University’s Leadership Council and won a Research-Enriched Academic Challenge award. The son of Kathy and T. Scott Williams, he also was selected by the Illinois Technology Foundation for its “50 for the Future” honor, which identifies potential technology leaders for the future.

Lucas Pulley, a junior in mechanical engineering from Gibson City, won the Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grant. He is one of just 50 students selected nationwide for the honor and will receive a $1,000 grant. Pulley plans to study microtechnology and mechatronics at Technische Universate in Braunschweig, Germany this summer.

The son of Brian and Ginney Pulley, Pulley is a member of last year’s “Research Rookies” undergraduate research program, and a recipient of a Research-Enriched Academic Challenge (REACH) award. He also is a member of the Student Alumni Council, among many other activities and awards.

Both Pulley and Williams are members of the University Honors Program at SIUC.