Tex Richardson Engineering & Science Guidance Award

This annual Award is jointly sponsored by the Tulsa Engineering Foundation (TEF), the Oklahoma Engineering Foundation (OEF) and with the cooperation of the Construction Specification Institute (CSI).  The Award was established in 1992 to recognize teachers and engineers in Oklahoma who demonstrate exceptional service in guidance activities, and is in memory of the late Tex Richardson who inspired so many in his years of guidance servicee.  Normally two annual awards, one to a teacher and one to an engineer, recognizing outstandng achievement and service in engineering and science guidance activities in the State of Oklahoma, are presented at the Tulsa E-Week Student Breakfast during the National Engineers Week in Febraruy.  The selections committee welcomes nominations throughout the year for the next years’ awards.  The nomintions may be sent to the permanent address of OEF or TEF or email wollmersh@aol.com. Click link for nomination form.

The 2010 Tex Richardson Guidance Award recipients are: 

Teacher: Dan Beaty – Jenks Middle School. Mr. Beaty is the MATHCOUNTS Coach and Computer Teacher for the 7th & 8th Grade.  He has been the Jenks MATHCOUNTS coach for the past six years and his teams have never finished below 2nd in state and he has had at least one mathlete on the national team every year.  He started a two-week summer MATHCOUNTS workshop at Jenks Middle School in 2009. The previous two summers he taught at the Texas University Mathworks summer program for advanced math students. Mr. Beaty has created a web site for starting a MATHCOUNTS program at danb80.com.  Mr. Beaty refined the World of Work (W.O.W.) class which gives students a variety of hands-on experience with the computer & business applications, incorporating collaborative learning.  He created a Multimedia class which provides students with the opportunity to use computer applications skills to do photo editing, videotaping, filming and editing for school events as well as “Today in History” segments. Mr. Beaty has a Bachelor of Arts from St. Louis Christian College and a Master’s of Science in Secondary Education with a math emphasis from Fort Hays State University.  His enthusiasm for math and its many applications has impacted many students in his 18 years of teaching at Jenks as well as other schools in Kansas in Oklahoma.

Engineer: Dr. Jack Sellers – Dr. Sellers is a retired electrical engineer volunteering to promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in our schools.  This effort is manifested primarily by organizing and implementing FIRST (For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Programs in high schools throughout the State.  Students, along with adult mentors, build a robot and then compete with other schools to determine who built the best robot.  Not only do the students acquire a ”hands on” appreciation of STEM, they enjoy the excitement of competition while involved.  Dr. Sellers has been instrumental in the growth of FIRST Robotics (a non-profit organization) from four high schools participating in 2005 to fifty high schools that will compete in the Oklahoma City Regional Competition on March 26-27.  Winners will advance to the FIRST Championship in Atlanta in April.  He holds a BS in electrical engineering, a MS in Education, and the Doctor of Education degrees from Oklahoma State University.  After retiring from Southwestern Bell/AT&T, he served on the faculty at Tulsa Community College.

Previous Awardees are:  

2009       Teacher                Ray Snider, Wells Middle School, Catoosa Public Schools, Tulsa Engineering Challenge

                Engineer                Bob and Marion Simmons, P.E., Retired - MATHCOUNTS, TECh, EWeek Activities

2008       Teacher                Marilyn Ann Thomas Howard -TU University School, MATHCOUNTS, Computer Challenge

                Engineer                James W. Kilmer, P.E., Retired, Science Enrichment at Eliot School, Endowed Scholarship

2007       Teacher                Patricia Yvette Laughlin – Catoosa Wells Middle School, Tulsa Engineering Challenge

                Engineer                Gaylon Pinc, P.E., Program Management Group; MATHCOUNTS, TECh, OSPE State-Wide

2006       Teacher:               Lane Cardwell Matheson – Engineering Academy Coordinator, Memorial High School

                Engineer:               Robert D. Strattan, Ph.D., P.E.-Emeritus Prof. of Electrical Eng’g & Mech. Eng’g, Univ.of Tulsa

2003       Teacher:               Norma Rodriquez — Assistant Principal, 7^th Grade Center, Union Public Schools

                Engineer:               Perry Brown, P.E. – Staff Engineering Technologist, AEP/PSO, MATHCOUNTS 

2002       Teacher:               Glenda Nelson – Mathematics Teacher, Jenks Public Schools, MATHCOUNTS Coach.

                Engineer:               Todd Hiemer, P.E. – Sr. Research Engineer, bioMerieux, Inc, Future City Comp. Coord.

2001       Teacher:               Donald L. Mathieson, Assoc. Prof. of Math. & Physics, Tulsa Community College

                Engineer:              Dr. Gerald R. Kane, P.E., Prof.  & Chair of Electrical Engineering, University of Tulsa

2000       Teacher:              Denny Stanford, Science Teacher, Union Public Schools, Tulsa

                  Engineer:            Thomas A. Carlisle, P. E., Phillips Petroleum Company, MATHCOUNTS

1999       Teacher:               Cathie Casper, Mathematics Instructor, St. Pius X School, Tulsa

                   Engineer:           Dennis D. Beckmann, P.E., Amoco Corporation, MATHCOUNTS

1998       Teachers:             George E. Abshire, Mathematics Instructor, Jenks Public Schools and

                                                John D. Cook, Jr., Academic Principal, Grace Fellowship Christian School, Tulsa

                 Engineer:              Allison Fate, Management Consultant and President, HFK, Inc., Engineering Explorer Scouts

1997       Teacher:                Susan Oliver, Science Teacher, Owasso Public Schools

                  Engineer:              Richard W. Mattes, P.E., Willbros Engineers, Inc, Science and Engineering Fair

1996       Teacher:                Tenna Whitsel, Academic Dean, Will Rogers High School, Tulsa

                 Engineer:               Edwin “Bud” Averill, P.E. of Public Service Company of Oklahoma, TECh

1995       Teacher:                Dr. Indestructo, a.k.a. Dr. Stewart Ryan, University of Oklahoma Physics Department.

                  Engineer:             Barbara Wollmershauser, P.E., Warren Petroleum Company, Discover-E

1994       Teacher:               Richard Maule, Science Teacher, Union Intermediate Schools, Tulsa

                 Engineer:              Harlan Dunn, P.E. retired from the Corps of Engineers, Career Guidance Service

1993       Teacher:               Gene Thompson, Physics Teacher, Booker T. Washington High School, Tulsa

                 Engineer:              Dr. Eric Bandurski, Science Enrichment Program, Amoco Research Center, Tulsa

1992       Teacher:               Shelley Fischer, Science Teacher, Sand Springs Schools.