Elaine Scott, Wolf Yeigh and Wendy Lawrence (Photo credit: Puget Sound Engineering Council)
By Douglas Esser
Two University of Washington Bothell leaders have been honored by the Puget Sound Engineering Council as top talents in the region. Elaine Scott, dean of the School of STEM, and Wendy Lawrence, a UW Bothell advisory board member, received their awards at a banquet at the Museum of Flight in Seattle on February 13. Scott was named 2016 Academic Engineer of the Year and veteran astronaut Lawrence was recognized for her many contributions to education. Scott was selected for her “exceptional career as an innovative leader in engineering education and a pioneer in interdisciplinary and collaborative STEM education,” the engineering council said. The council described the founding dean of the School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics as an inspiring and tireless leader who “has a distinguished record of achievements in improving the quality of interdisciplinary engineering education.” Scott said the honor is a reflection on the school. “This award is great recognition from our engineering community of our outstanding faculty and students in the growth of our STEM programs,” she said. The council presented Lawrence the Kenneth W. Porter Award to Captain Wendy Lawrence. The veteran of four space shuttle missions was recognized for her many contributions in K-12 education. She has been very active as a speaker, educator and advocate for scientific research “in working with K-12 students to educate them about careers in STEM fields and the great opportunities in space exploration,” the council said. Lawrence brought the Sally Ride Science Festival to UW Bothell in 2014, the first time it had ever been in the Pacific Northwest; the event is now called the Inspire STEM Festival. The 2015 event drew more than 900 middle school girls and boys who experienced interactive exhibits, hands-on workshops and inspiring, standing-room only talks by Lawrence and fellow astronaut Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger. “I am both humbled and honored by my selection. I greatly appreciate the opportunities to impact the next generation of engineers that UW Bothell has provided me through the Inspire STEM festival and my participation on the advisory board,” said Lawrence. The UW Bothell leaders took two of the seven annual awards the engineering council presents to honor talent in the Puget Sound area during National Engineers Week.
