Ms. Kyra Tillman, a 1999 Industrial Technology graduate, has been named Distinguished Young Alum for 2006. Kyra is a Project Manager for FCL Builders in Itasca, Illinois. After the successful completion of two solo projects, she was assigned to run a new 60-acre industrial development at O'Hare International Airport.
Mr. Michael Cermak, a 1992 Industrial Technology graduate, has been named Distinguished Young Alum for 2005. Michael is currently the Director of Engineering & Technology at Rock Valley College in Rockford, Illinois. The Engineering and Technology division includes automated manufacturing, building construction, computer-aided mechanical design, electronic engineering, graphic arts and quality engineering technology.
Mr. Brian Murphy, a 1993 Industrial Technology graduate, has been named Distinguished Young Alum for 2004. Brian has worked for Drees Homes for eleven years and is a Construction Manager with them. He is responsible for managing multiple locations with as many as 11 superintendents and 120 homes under construction. He is also responsible for quality control, staffing, budgeting, training, warranty and purchasing manager roles.
Mr. Curtis Thomas, a 1991 graduate of the Department of Industrial Technology, has been named the Distinguished Young Alum for 2003. Mr. Thomas is currently an Account Executive in Customer Service at ABB Flexible Automation, Inc. in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Mr. Thomas has hired Illinois State students and was instrumental in arranging the donation of the ABB robot to the department. His motivation and perseverance helped him to recover from a serious neck injury in his freshman year at Illinois State and to achieve his impressive professional career with a multi-national corporation.
Kirk O. Nash, a 1987 Industrial Technology Graphic Communication graduate, has been named Distinguished Young Alum for 2002. In 1988, he started Creative Digital Images, Inc. (CDI), a full service 3D computer animation studio located in the Chicago western suburbs. CDI provides broadcast graphics, product/process visualization for marketing and training, speaker support, courtroom animation and interactive multimedia. In recent years CDI has also been making children's entertainment oriented animation. Kirk O. Nash will be the keynote speaker at the Spring Awards Banquet on May 2, 2002 at the Radisson Hotel and Convention Center
Paul Walker, 2001 Distinguished Young Alum of the Department of Technology, Plastic Tooling Engineer, Compaq Computer, Houston, Texas.