Clarkson University Senior Emily Stefano of East Amherst, N.Y., Receives Frederica Clarkson Award

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Clarkson University President Tony Collins (left) presents the Frederica Clarkson Award to Emily Stefano.

POTSDAM, NY (05/09/2011)(readMedia)-- Graduating senior Emily A. Stefano of East Amherst, NY, received the Frederica Clarkson Award during Clarkson University's 118th commencement ceremony today. She was selected for the $1,000 award by a vote of the full University faculty based on her scholarship and promise of outstanding achievement.

The award was established in 1921 as a bequest in the will of Frederica Clarkson, sister of Thomas S. Clarkson, for whom the University is named. This award and the Levinus Clarkson Award are traditionally given to the two top students in the graduating class.

Stefano received a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering and was also a member of Clarkson's Honors Program.

Since 2009, Stefano has worked with Prof. Aaron Luttman and Prof. Kevin Fite to research "The Physics and Engineering of Skateboarding's MegaRamp."

She has presented this work at the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics conference for Computational Science and Engineering, the 2011 National Conference for Undergraduate Research, and the 2010 Society of Women Engineers National Conference. Her research was also featured in a science museum event about the science of skateboarding at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, Calif.

Stefano received the Mechanical Engineering Staff award, which is presented to the most promising senior in mechanical engineering. She has been on the president's list for seven semesters and the dean's list for one semester. Stefano will graduate with a 3.96 GPA.

Stefano was a student in the Clarkson School during her first year and received the Clarkson School Outstanding Scholar Award.

She served as the co-president and treasurer of the Society of Women Engineers and participated in the FIRST robotics SPEED team during her senior year.

Following commencement, Stefano will start her job in the technical rotation program at Lexmark International Inc. in Lexington, Ky.

Clarkson University launches leaders into the global economy. One in six alumni already leads as a CEO, VP or equivalent senior executive of a company. Located just outside the Adirondack Park in Potsdam, N.Y., Clarkson is a nationally recognized research university for undergraduates with select graduate programs in signature areas of academic excellence directed toward the world's pressing issues. Through 50 rigorous programs of study in engineering, business, arts, sciences and health sciences, the entire learning-living community spans boundaries across disciplines, nations and cultures to build powers of observation, challenge the status quo, and connect discovery and engineering innovation with enterprise.

[A photograph for media use is available at http://www.clarkson.edu/news/photos/frederica2011.jpg.]

Photo caption: Clarkson University President Tony Collins (left) presents the Frederica Clarkson Award to Emily Stefano.