September 29, 2006 Source: :
http://newsrelease.uwaterloo.ca/news.php?id=4778 Faculty of engineering awards Alumni Achievement Medals WATERLOO, Ont. (Friday, Sept. 29, 2006) -- The University of Waterloo faculty of engineering has announced the recipients of this year's Alumni Achievement Medals. They are: Stephen Burns (bachelor of applied science 1973, civil engineering, and master of applied science 1989, civil engineering); Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe (PhD 1976, civil engineering); and Vivienne Ojala (bachelor of applied science 1984, systems design engineering). The medals were presented to the recipients Thursday night at the annual faculty of engineering dinner held in Kitchener. "I am extremely proud of the many accomplishments of our Waterloo engineering alumni," said Adel Sedra, dean of engineering. "This year's three deserving medal recipients are excellent examples of the successes shared by many Waterloo engineering graduates who continue to advance our reputation in Canada and throughout the world." The prestigious awards were established in 1994 to recognize UW engineering graduates who have distinguished themselves through their professional achievements, community service or academic excellence. Burns, president of B.M. Ross and Associates Ltd. of Goderich, Ont., was recognized for his professionalism and leadership as a civil engineer, particularly during the difficult days of the Walkerton water crisis.His role in the search for the cause of the Walkerton contamination and participation in the water system remediation was instrumental in the removal of the boil water advisory after six months of intensive activity. The culmination of that vital work was the Report of Cause, authored by Burns. In his private life, Burns served on the board of the Huron-Perth Centre for Children and Youth for five years, including a year as president. He currently sits on the board of the Huron Business Development Corp., a position he has held for the past five years. Ibidapo-Obe, vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Nigeria, was honoured for his pioneering teaching and research in the field of control and information systems, along with his stewardship of UNILAG and bringing recognition to the Waterloo engineering name in Nigeria.Ibidapo-Obe served as both head of his department and dean of engineering at UNILAG from 1991 to 1999. As he introduced innovations to the faculty of engineering while he was dean, he has also renewed the governance of UNILAG since he became deputy vice-chancellor in 2000 and now chancellor. UNILAG won the Nigerian University Commission award for the best Nigerian University in 2002 and the second best Nigerian vice-chancellor award in 2002. In 2005, Ibidapo-Obe was chosen best vice-chancellor out of 76 Nigerian universities. Ojala, president and CEO of Brock Solutions, located in Kitchener, was cited for her talents and accomplishments as a business professional as well as an engineer. Brock Solutions has won the platinum award for 50 Best Managed Private Companies in Canada for the last 10 years.Throughout her career, Ojala has been a volunteer with UW's Women in Engineering where she has spoken to students at various gatherings and joined in panel discussions. In 1997, Ojala was elected to the Kitchener-Waterloo YMCA's board of directors. Recently, she provided leadership to the program design and project management of a $2-million expansion and renovation of the A.R. Kaufman Family YMCA in Kitchener. Last May, she became the president of the YMCA's board of directors for a two-year term. For details about the engineering Alumni Achievement Medal program, photos of the current recipients and a listing of all recipients to date, visit link
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