Newark, NJ – The New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) will celebrate its continued commitment to engineering education advancement at the 17th annual Salute to Engineering Excellence on March 31, 2015 in the Campus Center Atrium. Proceeds from the event will benefit the NCE Dean’s Fund.
“We are pleased to honor the distinguished alumni, outstanding industry partner, faculty and students who will be recognized for their achievements at the 17th Annual NCE Salute to Excellence,” said NCE Dean Moshe Kam, Ph.D. “They are advancing our pursuit of excellence in education, research, and community service, and also contributing to the state’s economic development.”
The 2015 NCE Outstanding Alumnus Award will be presented to Theodore D. Cassera, P.E., P.P., ’72, Project Manager at Omland Engineering Associates Inc. and Arnold M. Peskin ’65, retired Head of the Information Technology Division and Senior Scientist at the Brookhaven National Laboratory. During his 38-year career, Cassera, of Fairfield, has become known as one of the top engineers in New Jersey, 35 years of which with the Schoor DePalma organization. At Schoor DePalma, he was responsible for the design and management of major site development projects including sports arenas, two state prisons and numerous corporate headquarters. He joined Omland Engineering Associates Inc. of Cedar Knolls, in 2010. He has twice been appointed a member of the New Jersey State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. A member of the NCE Board of Visitors and Chairman of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department’s Industrial Advisory Board, Cassera received a B.S. in civil engineering from NCE in 1972.
Peskin, of Miller Place, New York, is the retired head of the Information Technology Division and Senior Scientist at the Brookhaven National Laboratory, where he served for 37 years. While at Brookhaven, Peskin took part in early developments in computer networking, computer-aided design of analog and logic circuits, and most recently data visualization. His team developed X-ray computed microtomography and immersive 3D visualization techniques that found application in oil exploration (with GTE and Mobil Oil), brain imaging, high energy physics simulations, and protein data structure analysis.
Peskin has invested significant efforts in college education, with a focus on underserved and adult populations. Among his achievements in this arena was the development of an accessible, self-perpetuating, “real-world” capstone experience for students in isolated, rural locations, as well as for students who could not complete their studies at a single institution (such as those in the military). He was also one of the developers of an innovative undergraduate nanoscience technology program for adult learners. He was active in the Educational Activities Board of IEEE as a volunteer member and as a member of the staff. He represented IEEE on the Board of the accreditation agency ABET, Inc., was named a Fellow of ABET for his contributions to the agency as a longtime volunteer, and is a recipient of an IEEE Meritorious Achievement Award in Educational Activities. He received a B.S. from NCE in 1965.
Each year, NCE recognizes an outstanding industry partner for their uniquely supportive relationship with NJIT. Utility and Transportation Contractors Association (UTCA) of New Jersey will receive the 2015 Outstanding Industry Partnership Award. UTCA currently includes approximately 1,100 member firms active in all phases of heavy, highway, site, utility and environmental remediation construction, in both the public and private sectors. On behalf of its member firms, UTCA strives to improve working conditions for the construction industry through its work in legislative and regulatory matters, safety training, labor relations, specifications development, group cost savings programs and individual problem-solving. Over the years, UTCA has provided scholarship support for NJIT students and has actively recruited NJIT graduates.
Cassera and Peskin will join the ranks of accomplished alumni who have been honored by NCE for their achievements. In 2014, Donald Cronin ‘75, P.C.M.H., President of Alternative Technologies, Inc., and Edward J. Schmeltz ‘71, P.E., Senior Vice President and Director of Maritime and Special Projects at AECOM Technology Corporation received the NCE Outstanding Alumnus Award.
In addition to alumni, awards will be presented to notable NCE faculty, staff and students. Student teams including the Steel Bridge Team and the Concrete Canoe Team will display their competition entries at the event.
For more information on the 2015 NCE Salute to Excellence, contact Angela Vega-Irvin at 973-596-3223 or visit nce.njit.edu/events/excellence2015.
The 2015 NCE Outstanding Alumnus Award will be presented to Theodore D. Cassera, P.E., P.P., ’72, Project Manager at Omland Engineering Associates Inc. and Arnold M. Peskin ’65, retired Head of the Information Technology Division and Senior Scientist at the Brookhaven National Laboratory. During his 38-year career, Cassera, of Fairfield, has become known as one of the top engineers in New Jersey, 35 years of which with the Schoor DePalma organization. At Schoor DePalma, he was responsible for the design and management of major site development projects including sports arenas, two state prisons and numerous corporate headquarters. He joined Omland Engineering Associates Inc. of Cedar Knolls, in 2010. He has twice been appointed a member of the New Jersey State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. A member of the NCE Board of Visitors and Chairman of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department’s Industrial Advisory Board, Cassera received a B.S. in civil engineering from NCE in 1972.
Peskin, of Miller Place, New York, is the retired head of the Information Technology Division and Senior Scientist at the Brookhaven National Laboratory, where he served for 37 years. While at Brookhaven, Peskin took part in early developments in computer networking, computer-aided design of analog and logic circuits, and most recently data visualization. His team developed X-ray computed microtomography and immersive 3D visualization techniques that found application in oil exploration (with GTE and Mobil Oil), brain imaging, high energy physics simulations, and protein data structure analysis.
Peskin has invested significant efforts in college education, with a focus on underserved and adult populations. Among his achievements in this arena was the development of an accessible, self-perpetuating, “real-world” capstone experience for students in isolated, rural locations, as well as for students who could not complete their studies at a single institution (such as those in the military). He was also one of the developers of an innovative undergraduate nanoscience technology program for adult learners. He was active in the Educational Activities Board of IEEE as a volunteer member and as a member of the staff. He represented IEEE on the Board of the accreditation agency ABET, Inc., was named a Fellow of ABET for his contributions to the agency as a longtime volunteer, and is a recipient of an IEEE Meritorious Achievement Award in Educational Activities. He received a B.S. from NCE in 1965.
Each year, NCE recognizes an outstanding industry partner for their uniquely supportive relationship with NJIT. Utility and Transportation Contractors Association (UTCA) of New Jersey will receive the 2015 Outstanding Industry Partnership Award. UTCA currently includes approximately 1,100 member firms active in all phases of heavy, highway, site, utility and environmental remediation construction, in both the public and private sectors. On behalf of its member firms, UTCA strives to improve working conditions for the construction industry through its work in legislative and regulatory matters, safety training, labor relations, specifications development, group cost savings programs and individual problem-solving. Over the years, UTCA has provided scholarship support for NJIT students and has actively recruited NJIT graduates.
Cassera and Peskin will join the ranks of accomplished alumni who have been honored by NCE for their achievements. In 2014, Donald Cronin ‘75, P.C.M.H., President of Alternative Technologies, Inc., and Edward J. Schmeltz ‘71, P.E., Senior Vice President and Director of Maritime and Special Projects at AECOM Technology Corporation received the NCE Outstanding Alumnus Award.
In addition to alumni, awards will be presented to notable NCE faculty, staff and students. Student teams including the Steel Bridge Team and the Concrete Canoe Team will display their competition entries at the event.
For more information on the 2015 NCE Salute to Excellence, contact Angela Vega-Irvin at 973-596-3223 or visit nce.njit.edu/events/excellence2015.
