2006 Outstanding Recent Alumni Award
The Outstanding Recent Alumni award was established in 2000 to recognize outstanding alumni who have graduated within the last ten years and provide opportunities for faculty, staff, and students to interact with them. Honorees have distinguished themselves through significant career advancement and diverse service to their communities.
Patrick Lawler, senior scientist in charge of ingredients, commercialization, and flavor stability at McCormick and Company in Hunt Valley, Md., is responsible for addressing technical challenges for all of the company's product divisions. He has directed the building of a new food technology lab for flavor applications, coordinated ingredient and manufacturing troubleshooting, and directed customer contact initiatives. He earned his bachelor's (1982), master's (1984), and doctoral (1997) degrees--all in food science--from Penn State.
Brent Leatherman, a licensed professional engineer, manages the Indiana branch of Timber Tech Engineering, Inc. In addition to performing and reviewing structural engineering for commercial and residential buildings, he is active in the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers and serves on technical and research committees as a member of the National Frame Builders Association. He graduated from Penn State in 1996 with a bachelor's degree in agricultural engineering.
