SWE-CI Awards

How can I apply for a Section Award?
Download the 2019 Individual Awards Packet here.
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2018 SWE-CI Section Awards
Thanks to our recipients for their energy and passion they dedicate to the Central Illinois Section and the field of engineering and congratulations on being awarded the following section awards.

The Distinguished Member Award honors women who have been actively engaged in the Central Illinois Section of the Society of Women Engineers. The nominee must demonstrate outstanding support and participation in the furthering of technical understanding or interest in young women. The nominee must be a SWE member or senior member in good standing and active in local activities of SWE. Participation in other professional and/or technical societies and community organizations is highly desirable as well-rounded individuals are sought for the award.

• Christiana Aguirre has been selected as the 2018 Central Illinois Section of the Society of Women Engineers Distinguished Member Award Recipient.  Christiana joined the Society of Women Engineers in Central Illinois in 2011 and was the Central Illinois Outreach Committee Chair of the Society of Women Engineers from 2015 to 2018.  As the Outreach Committee Chair, Christiana has substantially increased the number of outreach events to promote STEM and engineering education among the youth.  Her outreach efforts have been nationally recognized, and the Central Illinois Outreach Committee received several SWE Mission Awards from the Society of Women Engineers.  Caterpillar Inc. has also recognized SWE STEAM Outreach efforts by financially supporting SWE Central Illinois Outreach programs for the past two years.  Christiana also serves on the Outreach and Program Development Grant committees at the society's national level and is a member of the SWE Latino Affinity Group.

​The Outstanding Engineer Award is awarded to a qualified woman who has made significant contributions in the field of engineering and/or technical management. She need not be a member of the Society. Requirements include a minimum of an engineering degree or a degree in a technical field.

• Valerie West has been selected as the 2017 Central Illinois Section of the Society of Women Engineers Outstanding Engineer Award Recipient. Valerie started her career at Caterpillar in 1994 in simulation and testing, and has worked her way through numerous areas of Caterpillar, especially simulation.  Her current role is a division manager for the Virtual Product Development division where she manages a global team of engineers in the US, India, and China, making up almost half of the simulation engineers at Caterpillar.  Valeria has developed new simulation techniques, integrated simulation into Caterpillar product development processes and projects, and furthers simulation careers for Caterpillar.  

The Outstanding Advocate Award recognizes individuals who advocate for the inclusion and success of women, both present and prospective, in engineering and technology.  The nominee must have demonstrated outstanding advocacy for women and girls in engineering and technology.  These activities could include but not limited to: pre-college outreach, recognition of women engineers through awards or high-visibility communications, education or career counseling activities, advocating for corporate policies friendly to women engineers, and advocating in local, state or federal government for laws friendly to women engineers.
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• Gina Riley has been selected as the 2017 Central Illinois Section of the Society of Women Engineers Advocacy Award Recipient. Gina is an engineer within the Large Power Systems Division at Caterpillar, working on product strategy and governance.  She's mentoring and leading the SWENext group at Lindbergh and mentors math students at Peoria Public Schools, participates in Engineering Week and the Bradley Braves Club board.

SWE-CI Distinguished Member Awards
2018 - Christiana Aguirre
2017 - Megha Garg
2016 - Ranjani Rao
2015 – Paroma Banerjee
2014 – Sowmya Nagesh
2013 – Carol Weber
2012 – Jada Hoerr
2011 – Britta Jost
2010 – April Privett
2009 – Stacey DelVecchio
2008 – Shevaun Fennell
2007 – Beth Mack
2006 – Brittney (Lindstrom) Palmer
2005 – Amy Benecke McLaren
2004 – Jamie (Frisch) Stringfield
2003 – Alka Upadhyay
2002 – Elizabeth Sloan-Vicary

SWE-CI Outstanding Engineer Awards 
2018 - Valerie West
2017 - Sarita Kuppilli
2016 - Amy Moore-McKee
2015 – Mary George
2014 – Anita Yadav
2013 – Jane Gerdes
2012 – Cindy Loos
2011 – Lou Balmer Millar
2010 – Rosalee Martinez-Weber
2009 – Amy Benecke McLaren
2008 – Arun Karumanchi
2007 – Karen Jensen
2006 – Liz Miles
2005 – Mary Wickham
2004 – Sylvia Delgado
2003 – Stacey DelVecchio
2002 – Lynette Lipski

SWE-CI Outstanding Advocate Awards
2018 - Gina Riley
2017 - Amanda Martin

External SWE-CI Awards

• 2013 – Women's History Month Award from the National Organization for Women (NOW) Peoria chapter

SWE-CI Society Level Awards

• FY16 - Outreach for Large Professional Section
• FY16 - Professional Development Event for Large Professional Section
• FY15 - Professional Development Event - Becoming a Person of Influence
• FY15 - Communications Award, 2nd place
• FY11 – Membership Transition
• FY11 – Strategic Communications PR Program
• FY10 – Membership Retention
• FY09 – Professional Development Event - Tour of State Farms Crash Investigation Lab
• FY08 – Public Relations Program Award
• FY08 – Membership Recruiting Program Award
• FY08 – Professional Development Program - Region H Conference Panel Award
• FY08 – Professional Development Series - 'Finding Your Fit' Award

SWE-CI Region H Awards

• FY16 - Outreach
• FY16 - Professional Development Event
• FY12 – Membership Retention for Large Professional Section
• FY12 – Highest Net Increase for Large Professional Section
• FY12 – Highest Growth for Large Professional Section
• FY11 – Membership Retention
• FY10 – Professional Development Program Award - 'Building Sustainable Skills' series
• FY10 – Membership Retention
• FY09 – Honorable Mention - Membership Growth, Large Section
• FY09 – Honorable Mention - Continuous Improvement Work Life Balance Committee
• FY09 – Honorable Mention - Innovation SWE Communities Use
• FY08 – Innovation Award - City of Peoria Proclamation of E-Week
• FY08 – Membership Award - Membership Retention, Medium Section
• FY08 – Honorable Mention - Membership Growth, Medium Section
• FY08 – Continuous Improvement Award
• FY07 – Membership Award - Outstanding membership retention
• FY07 – Membership Award - Outstanding membership growth
• FY07 – Membership Award - Outstanding membership net increase
• FY07 – Innovation Award - Article Club Program
• FY07 – Professional Development (Honorable Mention) - 'Ready, Set, Go' Professional Development Series