President Mark Zupan announces work led by AU alumni
Pictured: Charlie Bellows ’16 (right) standing next to Governor Kathy Hochul at the July 29 unveiling of the award medallions in Lake Placid
Dear Alfred University alumni, parents, and friends
Alfred University’s glass science engineering program, the only one in the country to offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, has graduated some of the world’s most accomplished glass scientists and educators. It was no surprise then that the organizers of the 2023 World University Winter Games chose Alfred University to develop and create the award medallions for the Games, scheduled for this coming January in Lake Placid.
Prototypes of the award medallions Alfred University is creating for the 2023 World University Winter Games
Retired Glass Science Professor William LaCourse led the effort to create the unique medals—800 will be produced, made from recycled glass—which are blue in color but change to orange (signifying flame) when light shines on them. Charlie Bellows ’16, a glass science engineering doctoral student, also has been instrumental to the project, which serves as part of his doctoral thesis.
Youtube video of Lake Placid Games medallions project
In August, officials from the Lake Placid Games were on campus with a television reporter from Spectrum News, to develop a story on the medallions project. Charlie and Gabrielle Gaustad ’04, dean of our Inamori School of Engineering, were interviewed for the story, which was aired by Spectrum on its Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Binghamton, and Albany affiliate stations and posted to its website yesterday.
Please join me in congratulating Charlie, Gabby, and Bill, and all those involved in the medallions project, and in thanking them for their work, which shines a bright light on our glass science engineering program.
Fiat Vitrum!
Mark
