News Archive

The University of Illinois Alumni Association has chosen NPRE alumnus Michael J. Giacobbe III ( BS 1991, MS 1995, PhD 1999, Nuclear Engineering) to receive the 2008 Loyalty Award.

Established in 1957, the award is bestowed upon Illinois alumni who have made significant, notable, and meritorious contributions, and who have consistently demonstrated exceptional loyalty, commitment, dedication and service to the University of Illinois Alumni Association for the advancement of their alma mater.

Giacobbe, Director of Aon Global Risk Consulting in Chicago, was presented the award during the NPRE 2008 Honors Banquet on April 24, at the Alice Campbell Alumni Center on campus.

Even as a young alumnus, Giacobbe felt a desire to give back to his alma mater and saw no reason to wait until after he had established himself in a career. Soon after earning his PhD, Giacobbe helped organize a network of fellow alumni to create the Catherine Pritchard Scholarship Fund, the first undergraduate award within the Department of Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering. The first Pritchard Scholarship was awarded in 2000, just two years after Giacobbe had earned his degree, and nine scholarships have been awarded to date.

Giacobbe continues his involvement. He is working with department and college staff members to encourage alumni to endow the Barclay G. Jones Fund as a fellowship within NPRE, and has agreed to act as an advocate, meeting with other alumni to encourage their support. Giacobbe also has served on the department's Constituent Alumni and Industry Advisor Board for about seven years.

By establishing these student support funds, Giacobbe helps the department recognize and reward the outstanding work of its students. Perhaps even more important, Giacobbe serves as an example and inspiration to these students, who, it is hoped, will return the investment in future generations of students.

Contact: Susan K. Mumm, editor/alumni affairs coordinator, Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering, 217/347-2166.