The College of Aeronautics and Engineering at Kent State University celebrated outstanding achievement and dedication at its annual awards ceremony on Thursday, November 7, recognizing distinguished alumni, corporate partners, faculty, staff, and students.
Tim ‘06 and Kris Palcho ’90, ’16 were both honored for their contributions to aviation. Tim received the Outstanding Faculty Award for his more than two decades of dedication to aviation education at Kent State, having guided over 2,500 students through flight training. Kris earned the Distinguished Alumni Award for her remarkable contributions to aviation safety at the FAA, where she has served for over two decades in roles advancing general aviation operations and safety programs at both local and national levels.
Joshua Cherok '14 and Dexter Shreve ‘13 were honored with Young Alumni Awards, recognizing their early-career achievements. Cherok currently serves as Manager of Aircrew Training Administration at Flexjet, while also teaching as an adjunct professor at Kent State. Shreve owns and operates Day Piston Company in Cleveland, where he applies the hands-on experience gained at Kent State to drive manufacturing innovation.
The Van Deusen Award was presented to Brooks ‘84 and Mary Weingart, who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to the college through both financial support and service. The couple's establishment of an endowed scholarship and membership in Kent State’s Herrick Society exemplifies their dedication to engineering education, ensuring their impact will continue for generations to come.
Vic '71, '74, '06 and Cheryl Petrovic ‘74 received the Distinguished Contributor Award for their significant support of the college. The couple, who met at Kent State, established the Petrovic Family Aeronautics and Engineering Fund, supporting crucial student experiences including the Precision Flight Team competitions and Air Race Classic teams. Their hands-on involvement with competition teams and faculty demonstrates their ongoing commitment to student success.
Corporate Hall of Fame inductees included Southwest Airlines, recognized for their partnership in the Destination 225° program and support of the professional pilot program, and Dabos, Inc., honored for their sponsorship of key college initiatives including the Advanced Air Mobility Conference.
The college introduced its inaugural Outstanding Mentor Award, presented to Maureen "Mo" McFarland, Ph.D. ’17 for her transformative impact on student success. A former Marine, McFarland was recognized for her unique approach combining military experience with dedicated academic guidance. Outstanding Staff Awards were presented to Jamie Walker Hale for her exceptional student support and Tim Kyer for his skilled leadership in business operations.
The evening concluded with the recognition of scholarship recipients, highlighting the college's commitment to supporting student success through donor-funded opportunities.
"Our college's success is built on the dedication and excellence of our faculty, staff, students, alumni, friends, and corporate partners," said Joycelyn Harrison, Ph.D., Associate Dean of the College of Aeronautics and Engineering. "Tonight's honorees exemplify the values that make our college community exceptional."
