Merit Awards Recipients Honored at Merit Member Conference

Merit Network's Award for Innovation in Networking and Information Technology

Shawn McKee, University of Michigan

Since the 1990s Shawn McKee has been active in a wide range of physics collaborations, taking a central role in advancing computing technology to address the simulation and data analysis requirements of each experiment. The ATLAS project, with its multi-petabyte per year data flow, represents a significant challenge for today's computing infrastructure. In 2001, McKee was appointed Network Project Manager for US ATLAS to plan for and develop the necessary network environment to support the project’s computing model. He is co-chair of the High-Energy and Nuclear Physics Internet2 Working Group, which addresses problems common to all high-energy and nuclear physics experiments.

Douglas Nye, MidMichigan Medical Center

As manager of information systems at MidMichigan Medical Center, Douglas Nye is responsible for providing network services to healthcare providers throughout the central Michigan region. Over the past two years, Nye has worked to secure high-speed broadband connections to key hubs within the Medical Center's care network, thus promoting the effective use of telemedicine for radiology and cardiology. This has benefited rural patients who now have greater access to these specialty services.

Merit Network's Award for Community Building

David Zenz, Hillsdale College

Merit's selection of David Zenz for this award recognizes his ongoing commitment to building the Hillsdale community network. This significant accomplishment has made a real difference to the Hillsdale community and to the many organizations served by the fiber-optic network. It took a significant investment in time, energy and dedication on his part to form the community group, invite participation, and follow through with the many technical, financial and policy issues. Hillsdale's community network initiative is a model for other such efforts throughout Michigan.

Meritorious Service Award

Pete Hoffswell, Davenport University

Pete Hoffswell is a member of the Merit Advisory Council and served as chair for 2008-2009, working to build a strong role for the MAC in Merit's activities. Hoffswell has served for two years as a member of the Merit Member Conference program committee and has often spoken at the MMC and at other Merit meetings. He is well known as a technical innovator and for sharing his knowledge with others. In 2008, he applied to intern with Merit's network engineering staff in support of NANOG, and has been a member of that team at the past four meetings. In that role, Hoffswell has provided invaluable assistance in building and maintaining the meeting networks and has introduced the use of new network management tools to improve performance. On behalf of Davenport University, he has worked closely with Merit staff on the installation of fiber links to the university's many campuses and has been an excellent project partner. These many contributions have been highly beneficial to Merit and to the Merit community.

Brian Paige, Oakland University

Merit has selected Brian Paige for this award to recognize his ongoing commitment to Merit's success and his engagement with the Merit community. Paige has been a long-time attendee and presenter at MJTS meetings and other Merit gatherings, generously sharing his technical expertise and experience. He has been a consistent participant in Merit technical communities and is a trusted advisor to many Merit staff members and to technical staff at other Member organizations. Paige has worked closely with Merit operations and engineering staff on Merit's evolving connections in Oakland and Macomb Counties, and has provided advice and resources to representatives of other institutions to help meet their needs for connectivity. These significant contributions have enhanced Merit's effectiveness and improved the ability to provide valuable services.

Michael Richardson, Regional Educational Media Center 1

Michael Richardson is a tireless advocate for K-12 technology, and his focused zeal has richly rewarded schools and students all across Michigan. The REMC 1 region—serving the Western Upper Peninsula—was one of the first in the state to offer Internet access to schools, integrate video conferencing in the classroom, offer email services to teachers and students, and implement filtering before it was federally mandated. Today REMC 1 is a leader in consortium-based desktop support, smart classrooms, and server hosting and virtualization. Each of these advances would not have happened without Richardson's devotion to the region's students and schools, and his visionary aptitude for spotting key trends in K-12 technology.