25-04-2025
Pitt State faculty and students win top honors internationally
PITTSBURG, Kan. — Pittsburg State University faculty and students have received high international honors at a conference in St. Louis.
Officials with Pitt State say Associate Professor Byron McKay and Assistant Instructional Professor Trevor Maiseroulle from the university's School of Technology and Workforce Learning both received the Distinguished Technology & Engineering Professional Award at the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) conference in St. Louis.
Pitt State officials claim the Distinguished Technology & Engineering Professional Award is only given to the top 5% of those working in the profession and is indicative of technology and engineering educators who have demonstrated an exceptionally high level of career competence.
'They must demonstrate professional ability, exceptional character, and have developed a reputation of excellence within the profession through service, scholarly activity, and teaching,' noted Professor Andrew Klenke, director of the university's School of Technology and Workforce. 'Byron and Trevor have excelled in each of these categories and have definitely earned this prestigious honor.'
Klenke also said he was surprised to be the recipient of two awards himself, winning the ITEEA Teacher Educator of the Year Award as well as the ITEEA Special Recognition Award. The Educator of the Year is the highest honor given by the Council for Technology and Engineering, with only 68 people receiving the award since its inception in the 1950s.
Officials say other awards given to Pitt State students include:
Nine Pitt State students were inducted into the newly resurrected Alpha Alpha Chapter for Epsilon Pi Tau, the leading international honor society for technology that recognizes academic excellence. It is led by McKay and Maiseroulle.
Will Niffen (Technology & Engineering Education)
Hannah Reilly (Technology & Engineering Education and Wood Product Manufacturing)
Gage Davenport (Technology & Engineering Education)
Jack Banman (Technology & Engineering Education)
Melania Wright (Technology & Engineering Education)
Kendryc Walker (Technology & Engineering Education)
Jozzalynn Duke (Graphic Communications)
Hayden Miller (MSCTE Graduate Student)
Jessica Kohley (MSCTE Graduate Student)
Pitt State says starting in Fall 2025, EPT will be open to all undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the university's Crossland College of Technology.
In competitions that drew eight other universities including Purdue and Brigham Young, students from Pitt State scored well:
2nd in Manufacturing (Hannah Reilly, Jack Banman, Gage Davenport, Will Niffen, Jozzalynn Duke, and Kendryc Walker)
4th in Problem Solving (Hayden Miller, Jack Banman, Kendryc Walker, Melania Wright, and Will Niffen)
5th in Teaching Lesson (Hayden Miller and Jessica Kohley)
4th in Technology Challenge
For more information about the School of Technology and Workforce at Pitt State, click here.
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