Brian M. O’Connell Award given to Bob Whelchel

SSIT has announced that the latest recipient of the IEEE-SSIT Brian M. O’Connell Distinguished Service Award is Prof. Robert  J. Whelchel, a Professor Emeritus of Engineering at Trine (formerly Tri-State) University, Angola, IN. The O’Connell Award is a periodic IEEE-SSIT honor bestowed on a member who has served with particular distinction. Among other past duties in SSIT, Whelchel has served as Society President, and also served two separate stints as Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Technology and Society Magazine.

The award was presented at the SSIT Board of Governor's Meeting meeting July 28, 2012 in Stanford Connecticut.

Robert Welchel (left) being presented award by SSIT President Gerald Engel (right)

Previous Recipients of the Award:

2007 Joseph R. Herkert
2008 Norman Balabanian
2009 Clinton J. Andrews

Brian O'Connell 4th Annual Lecture

April 11, 2012, 3PM
Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT
Founders Hall, in Davidson Hall

The 4th Brian O'Connell Lecture was a performance by Albanian violinist Brunilda Myftaraj and pianist Igor Lovchinsky. Cellist Melissa M Morgan was unable to perform but said a few words in memory of Brian.

 Brunilda Myftaraj has drawn enthusiastic accolades from audiences as well as critical acclaim for her masterful musicianship in her native Albania, as well as Italy, Greece, France, Marocco, Austria, Switzerland, Poland and in the United States. She has been praised recently by the New London Day critic as an “especially fine and beautiful player”.

Hailed by Gramophone as a “star of the future” and acclaimed by Germany’s Piano Magazine for the “elegance and rapturous beauty” of his music-making, pianist Igor Lovchinsky has performed at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Auditorium, the Bushnell Center, the Eastman Theater and the Ohio Theater.