Student Awards

Awarded to an undergraduate student for most outstanding academic achievement.

Trevor R. Cuykendall was a professor and charter member of the the school. He came to the university as a doctoral candidate from the University of Denver which had awarded him the degrees of electrical engineering and M.S. in physics. After earning his Ph.D. in X-ray physics, he was appointed research associate and then assistant professor at Cornell Engineering. His early work was on stress analysis of earth-filled dams, using gelatin models and polarized light. During the war, he went to Washington to work on magnetic defense at the Naval Ordinance Laboratory, then to Los Alamos National Laboratory. After the war, he became a leader in nuclear education and training, maintaining close ties to Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Awarded to an undergraduate student for excellence in experimental physics.

Paul Hartman was a professor and charter member of the school. His association with Cornell dates back to the 1930s. He first came to the university as a graduate student, after earning the bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Nevada in 1934. He received the doctorate in physics in 1938, spent another year as an instructor, and then spent seven years at Bell Telephone Laboratories. He returned to Cornell in 1946 with a joint appointment in the Department of Physics. His research has included early investigation of synchrotron radiation and participation in a classic study of the use of the magnetron to generate ecentimeter waves. He has been active during summers and sabbaticals as a consultant to Hughes Aircraft Company and the Los Alamos National Laboratory, and he served as an editor of the “Review of Scientific Instruments.” He has been deeply involved in the educational philosophy of the School of Applied and Engineering Physics since its inception, and he served as associate director of the school from 1971 until his retirement in 1983.

Awarded to an undergraduate student for excellence in research and for excellence in undergraduate research project supervision.

After graduating with degrees in physics and electrical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1971, Frederick Chau entered Cornell University’s graduate program in applied physics, obtaining his master’s degree in 1974. Chau then worked as a scientist, an engineer, a manager and an entrepreneur. He is now president of Pacific Quality Packaging Corp., a company that manufactures corrugated packaging and entertainment displays, which he founded in southern California in 1984. Chau is married to Dorothy Lau, also originally from Hong Kong. They have two children, Chris and Karen, both of whom graduated from Amherst College. Chris Chau received his M.Eng. degree at Cornell in May 2002.

Presented to a Master of Engineering Student for the Best Master of Engineering Project.

David Clark, a nuclear physicist and faculty member in the College of Engineering, became the first director of Cornell’s Ward Laboratory of Nuclear Engineering. He designed and built one of the first university reactors in its class and oversaw the construction of the Lab, serving as its director for 35 years. In 1996, he was recognized as a fellow of the American Nuclear Society, its highest honor. After his death in 1997, a special memorial fund was established by his family to promote and recognize excellence in the Master of Engineering program.

Presented to a Master of Engineering Physics Student for Top Academic Performance.

Henri Sack, dedicated to improving the quality of education, worked tirelessly on committees and projects for curriculum revision. He was a leader and major force in forging the Engineering Physics program to national recognition, bringing engineering education more in concert with the national demands of the profession. His passion for mentoring students, his dedication and love for the intellectual pursuits of physics and applied science, and his loyalty to Cornell guided his life and career. Several years ago, with the generosity of former students, the School of Applied and Engineering Physics established a distinguished lecture series to honor the memory of Professor Sack.

Presented to the Outstanding Teaching Assistant in Engineering Physics.

Trevor Cuykendall was a Professor of Engineering Physics from the School’s inception in 1946 until his retirement in 1972. He was particularly noted for his interest in Engineering Physics undergraduates and was long remembered by alumni for his concern for students, both personally and professionally. After his death in 1985, a special memorial fund was established by his friends, colleagues, and former students to promote and recognize excellence in the undergraduate program.

Presented to a Student for an Outstanding Research Paper.

William Findley graduated from Cornell University in 1939, seven years prior to the establishment of the School of Applied and Engineering Physics. In 1999, he created an endowment in fond memory of Trevor Cuykendall, a professor and founding member of the School of Applied and Engineering Physics. In addition to his generosity to Applied and Engineering Physics, Mr. Findley and his wife Ruth, established the renowned Ruth Woolsey Findley and William Nichols Findley History of Art Lecture Series at Cornell.