College of Engineering Award Recipients

Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award
Richard L. Schmidt, Jr., Eng ’80
Brookfield, Wis.

As president and CEO of CG Schmidt, Rick Schmidt considers himself only a guardian of his family’s construction management company. Read more.

Professional Achievement Award
Ronald J. Schutz, Eng ’78
Medina, Minn.

Ron Schutz found just what he was looking for in Marquette — an ROTC scholarship, an engineering program “infused with a rigorous Jesuit pursuit of truth and knowledge,” and his high-school sweetheart, Janet Jensen,
Med Tech ’78. Read more.

Entrepreneurial Award
Michael S. Butler, Eng ’95
Saint Charles, Ill.

Mike Butler has some advice for budding entrepreneurs: “When leaning into entrepreneurialism, be obsessed with your vision.” And impressionable innovators may want to take heed. Read more.

Young Alumna of the Year Award
Dr. Kathryn Anne Weiss, Eng ’01
Pasadena, Calif.

Katie Weiss calls Dr. Susan Riedel her role model. The now-retired Marquette electrical and computer engineering professor was the first person to prove to Katie that engineering was accessible to her, as a female. Read more.