Sources: Cody Knuth, cknuth@k-state.edu;
Patrick McGrail, pmcgrail@k-state.edu;
and Julia Keen, 785-532-3575, jkeen@k-state.edu
Hometown interest: Adrian and Jefferson City, Mo.
News release prepared by: Tyler Sharp, 785-532-2535, tmsharp@k-state.edu
Friday, Feb. 24, 2012
Scholarly success: Architectural engineering students honored by national organization
MANHATTAN -- Two Kansas State University architectural engineering students are being honored for their leadership, scholarship abilities and potential service in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration industry.
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, also known as ASHRAE, awarded scholarships to Patrick McGrail, Jefferson City, Mo., and Cody Knuth, Adrian, Mo., both seniors in architectural engineering.
McGrail received the Willis H. Carrier Scholarship, the society's highest honor. Established by the Carrier Foundation in honor of the company's founder, two $10,000 scholarships are awarded annually. McGrail serves as the secretary for the university's student chapter of the society and has attended two national meetings and numerous local chapter meetings. He is also a member of the Architectural Engineering Institute and Phi Alpha Epsilon, the architectural engineering honor society.
"I have always been interested in engineering and problem solving," McGrail said. "My older brother majored in architecture at K-State and when I visited him I was exposed to the engineering side of the industry. I was particularly drawn to the systems' design aspect of architectural engineering."
McGrail is also a member and a past officer of Lambda Chi Alpha, a men's social fraternity.
Knuth received the Duane Hanson Scholarship. Named in honor of the president of Gayner Engineers, a consulting mechanical/electrical engineering firm in San Francisco, one $3,000 scholarship is available annually. Knuth has been active in the society, the Architectural Engineering Institute, the Structural Engineers Association of Kansas and Missouri, and Phi Alpha Epsilon.
"This award means the world to me," Knuth said. "I could not be more honored or thrilled to be given this opportunity. Given how much time and effort my major requires, I have very little free time in which to work. Receiving this scholarship relieves some of the financial burden that comes with such a rigorous major."
Julia Keen, associate professor of architectural engineering and construction science and co-adviser for the student chapter of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, nominated both students for the scholarships.
"Both Danny and Cody have shown an excellent ability to balance academic success with professional society involvement and leadership," she said. "Both of these gentlemen have been very active in our university ASHRAE branch chapter for multiple years."
