Full time EET and TLC students in good standing may apply for departmental awards during the month of March by corresponding with the department chair, E-Mail is fine. Awards are made at a college wide ceremony in May, attendance is expected.  While most awards are related to scholarship, the IEEE and faculty awards recognize students who have made significant progress or other contributions to the programs. Unfortunately, there are never enough awards to go around, so apply early.

Lawrence J. Sitterlee and his wife Anne were lifelong educators in the triple cities.  "Larry" (LJ) was well known in the local industry through the popular cooperative education program that he sheparded as the first chair of the Electrical Technology program. Professor Sitterlee earned the BS and MS degrees in Electrical Engineering from Clarkson College, now Clarkson University.  He specialized in both power and electronics and brought his expertise to the classroom in the early days of the program (1947). He was a good friend of Cecil Tyrell, first president of the college, also an engineer, and together they built the program's strong national reputation.  In 1947, a flood of veterans came to BCC to learn skills that would enable them to work at IBM, NYSEG, Bendix, Singer Link, Endicott-Johnson and other local companies. These students eventually worked for, managed, and built other firms in the area. Skills were enhanced by a strong co-op program, with Professor Sitterlee visiting students as they worked in the industries. This award honors the contribution that LJ Sitterlee made to  this community with the support of his practical and fun loving wife Anne.  (The LJ Sitterlee Award recognizes high grades and a strong interest in the field.)

Professor Robert L. Reid is well known among alumni as both the second chair of the Electrical Program and outstanding instructor of Electrical Circuits.  He received his BS degree in Electrical Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology, and the MS in Computer Systems from Binghamton University. Many more than the 2000 graduates of the EET program learned their basic skills from Professor Reid over the years. 'Bob' is very well known for his accomplishments nation wide through his dedicated work with the Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (TAC/ABET). With friends all over the United States, Professor Reid put BCC's Electrical program on the map as a premier producer of quality technicians for the industry. In 1986, Professor Reid became the Dean of the Division of Technologies, Engineering and Computing.  He was responsible for overseeing the construction of the Applied Technology Building, a credit to his perseverence and skill as an engineer. ( The Robert L. Reid Award is a divisional award and rotates annually among the TEC departments. This award recognizes the hard work and scholarship of the recipient.)

Professor Donald Emmons was a very thorough and popular faculty member in the Electrical Department during the 1950's.  He was surrounded by intent students as he shared his expertise through lecture and example.  This endowed foundation award reflects the outstanding contributions made by Professor Emmons to the education and training of technicians for Broome County firms. This photo was taken from the 1964 college yearbook known as the Citadel. 'Don' Emmons was a caring instructor with many friends both professionally, and his students of course. (The Donald Emmons Award goes to a scholarly freshman entering the senior year.)
 
 
 

The Robert and Ruth O’Connor Scholarship - Bob  O’Connor graduated from Broome Tech in 1951, the year the armory burned down.  (He swears he didn’t do it!)  His major was in  Electrical Engineering Technology, and at that time Larry Sitterlee was head of the Electrical Department.  Bob was very active and involved while at BCC and recalls two very enjoyable years.  He was president of the Senior Class, vice president of Student Council, an  active member of the Camera Club, and a member of AIEE.
Commuting from Greene where he grew up, Bob went from Broome to work at General Electric in Johnson City. He began with an internship in the GE Test Department for six months.  GE would move interns from one Test Department to another of your choosing as long as there was an opening.  While putting your electrical background to work, GE would expose you to engineering management as well as factory manufacturing. According to Bob, with this kind of training, a person could move just about anywhere in the country. After about two years of Test Department experience Bob ended up in engineering  and stayed put.   Over the years Bob continued his daily commute from Greene with a group of “workaholic colleagues.”  They managed to make it to work in the winter even when the plant was closed.  Bob reminisces working with Bob Reid at GE, one of many BCC instructors who worked at GE at one time or another. (Mr.  Reid had  already graduated from BCC, but returned not long after, first as an instructor and eventually as Dean of the Technologies, Engineering and Computing Division.)  Bob retired from GE in 1988.
When asked how he and his wife Ruth met, both burst out laughing as Bob responds, “ I met her on my way to the dump one day.”  He was taking his recyclables, when he ran into Ruth.  Born and bred in Pennsylvania, Ruth attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and received an M.A.  from Penn State. (Her fields were Home Economics and Secondary Education.) Ruth taught and worked near home in Pennsylvania Furnace.  Her nearly thirty-year career was capped with her service as Regional Director  of the Penn State Cooperative Extension. Bob and Ruth were married in 1996. They spend about five months of the year in Englewood, Florida, located between Sarasota and Ft. Myers.  They are enjoying their retirement together, especially fishing, boating, and other outdoor activities as well as  traveling.
While Bob didn’t really stay in touch with his classmates over the years, he didn’t forget the good start he got at BCC.  Last fall, forty-seven years after graduating from Broome Tech, he and Ruth decided to give a special helping hand to students in his old program at BCC in Electrical Engineering Tech and they established the Robert G. and Ruth F. O’Connor Scholarship Fund.  Their gift, enhanced by a generous matching gift from General Electric, is generating a wonderful scholarship for the most improved returning student in EET.
 
 

Professor Dervay began a series of projects in the Construction Laboratory course with a plumb bob; then on to a center punch that taught machining, heat treating and engraving.  Progressively students moved on to the skills required for the neon circuit tester, a great transistor tester, and the rigors of a drill guage.  'Bill' introduced the Testafon project and also low voltage remote control wiring.

An innovator, Bill was first to bring the use of computers to EET freshmen; project specifications were stored on the mainframe.  For many students, this was their first computer experience.  Most students have a coveted extension cord project built under the tutelege of Professor Dervay and each learned to take pride in their accomplishments.  Over the years, it became apparent that Professor Dervay's commitment to 'a job well done' was a seed planted in each of our EET program graduates.

The 'rock' behind Professor Dervay all those years was his loving wife Sue, affectionately known to many as Susie. Many evenings Bill would be home grading student work, and his wife would say, " Now you know, Bill, you be sure they do the job completely!"

The Dervay's belief in the community college is aptly demonstrated by the sucesses of their three children, all graduates of BCC. William Dennis Dervay graduated from the Civil Engineering Technology program in 1971 and went on to Tri-State in Indiana to become a Civil Engineer.  Robert Paul Dervay graduated from Liberal Arts in 1975 and received his Bachelor's degree from SUNY Oneonta.  Ann Marie Dervay graduated from BCC's Dental Hygiene program in 1980 and later from SUNY Cortland.

Other members of the family also found their start at BCC:  Brother Joe graduated from Mechanical Engineering Technology in 1969, sister Helen graduated from Liberal Arts in 1971, niece Paula graduated from Liberal Arts in 1972 and then SUNY Potsdam in 1974, nephew David graduated from Engineering Science in 1974 and later as an Industrial Engineer from Syracuse University.  Nephew James Dervay graduated from the Civil Engineering Technology program in 1983 and later from Clarkson University in Civil Environmental Engineering in 1985. This family loves BCC!

We left out one graduate!  Bill himself graduated from BCC's Electrical program in 1949! He went on to work for General Electric and also for E.H. Titchener and Company. Bill served in WWII and in 1986 donated the large flag that hangs in the Atrium of the Applied Technology building at BCC. In retirement, Bill is owner and operator of Derv A Engraving Company where he uses the latest computer run equipment. He also is a dedicated leader in the preservation and improvements of St. Michael's church, and also St. Michael's cemetery.  Bill was deeply involved at St. Michaels in the building and planning of the Recreation Center, the Church rennovation, and the recent Atrium addition.

All of these show the evidence of the Dervay's love and dedication to helping other people in the community.  This award is for a construction lab student entering the senior year who has shown the desire and ability to learn and grow within the field and the construction laboratory area.

Faculty Awards:  Each year, the department faculty recognize students who have shown their interest and dedication to the field of both Electrical Engineering Technology, and Telecommunications Technology. While at the college, your faculty have the opportunity to see you in action and in study.  Not everyone is an A student, and we recognize that often the more productive members of our industry are those who are well-rounded with a variety of interests.  Many of our successful graduates have achieved great things using the skills and practices learned while taking those tough EET courses. The faculty awards are for hard work, for dedication, for a job well done, for perseverence, and for improvement.

The Tau Alpha Pi Awards: Tau Alpha Pi is the national honor society for engineering technology, just as Phi Beta Kappa is for liberal arts and Tau Beta Pi is for engineering. Founded in 1967 and managed for more than 30 years by engineering technology educator Frederick J. Berger, Tau Alpha Pi is open to both associate-degree and baccalaureate candidates.

Tau Alpha Pi membership is open to top-performing associate-degree and baccalaureate students in engineering technology programs. Only the highest 4 percent of an institution's total engineering technology enrollment in a given academic term may be elected members. Each chapter may have further requirements such as minimum grade point averages and minimum length of enrollment restrictions. Once elected to membership, students receive an honorary certificate of induction and a Tau Alpha Pi key. In Spring 1998, there were 540 initiates from 84 chapters.

BCC hosts the Beta Theta chapter with members from technology programs: Electrical, Telecommunications, Civil, Mechanical, and Chemical.