Twelve faculty and five staff members have been singled out by engineering students for their outstanding work in the College of Engineering.

“The best thing about this award is it’s by the students and that’s what the professors are here for,” said Erick Molstad, vice president of the Engineering Student Council.

Usually faculty get recognized by the university for their research, but tonight they will be recognized for their teaching and work with the students at the College of Engineering Outstanding Professor/Staff Banquet.

The banquet is sponsored by the Engineering Student Council.

Molstad said most of the faculty were chosen by students because they are available for students when they need help and students feel they can talk to them.

The students voted by ballot March 18-19 to select a professor from each department as well as five staff members to be honored. This year about 330 students voted, about triple the number who voted last year, which was a record turnout.

Most students voted at independent tables, although some ballots were taken to senior engineering classes by executive members of the Engineering Student Council, Molstad said.

Honoring staff members is a new addition to the banquet this year.

“We felt that we wanted to try and make it a little bit bigger and recognize a few more people,” Molstad said.

Professors being honored are Jerald Vogel, aerospace engineering; Jim Shahan, agricultural engineering; Kristen Constant, ceramic engineering; Dick Seagrave, chemical engineering; James K. Cable, civil engineering; Edward J. Jaselskis, construction engineering; Sachin Sapatnekar, computer engineering; Satish Udpa, electrical engineering; Bruce Munson, engineering mechanics; Douglas Gemmill, industrial engineering; William Szaroletta, mechanical engineering and John Verhoeven, metallurgical engineering.

Staff members being honored include Fern Parrish, civil and construction engineering clerk; Donna Schradle, civil and construction engineering secretary; Cindy Frame, chemical engineering secretary; Lori Hilpipre, industrial and manufacturing systems secretary and Martha Clifford, mechanical engineering secretary.

All the faculty and staff being honored will be presented with framed certificates by Molstad at a dinner banquet in the Scheman Building at 6 p.m. today.

Two other students will read short backgrounds about those being honored.

Alan Lynch, a guest speaker from Engineering Animation Inc., will speak about computer animation in engineering.

The banquet will be attended by the deans of the College of Engineering, about 15 members of the Engineering Student Council, the staff and faculty being honored and their guests.