Kawatra Receives MTU's First Mentor Award
HOUGHTON--S. Komar Kawatra is the recipient of Michigan Technological
University's first Graduate Student Mentor Award. Kawatra, a chemical engineering
professor, was lauded by his students as an excellent teacher and advisor,
who expertly assists them through their graduate-school experience and
beyond. "He asks the best of
his students, mainly because he gives his best to them," said Henry
Walqui, a chemical engineering graduate student from Peru. "His classes
are always entertaining and challenging." Kawatra is equally helpful
in the lab. "There have been many times when the research seems to
go nowhere, when regardless of what I try I could not get the results
I wanted," Walqui said. "On those times, he has always been
there to point out what could be done, or the best solution to my problem." "Because of Komar, I
have 29 technical publications," said graduate student Jason Ripke,
in nominating Kawatra for the award. "I am the first author for half,
while he is the first author for the other half. . . . "Komar is directly responsible
for my obtaining three job interviews," he said. "Incredibly,
he personally negotiated a 150 percent increase in my starting salary.
I have these offers because Komar's cretivity has helped guide my research
to match the needs of these companies and my future plans." Kawatra came to Michigan Tech
in 1977 and chaired the Department of Mining and Materials Processing
Engineering until recently, when its programs were merged into other academic
departments. He has received numerous honors and awards, including the
2000 Robert H. Richards Award from the American Institute of Mining and
Metallurgy, the Taggart Award from the Society for Mining, Metallurgy
and Exploration, and the 2002 Frank F. Aplan Award from the American Institute
of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers. At Michigan Tech, he
received the 1987 Research Award. Kawatra has a number of patents
and has published more than 100 papers. He has edited or authored seven
books and coauthored "Coal Desulfurization: High-Efficiency Preparation
Methods," a reference book for practicing engineers. "He works closely with
other experts in industry and academia to always be on the cutting-edge
of technology," Ripke said. "Everyone in our field knows who
he is, and he is very greatly respected." Walqui agreed. "He is
considered one of the top experts in at least two completely different
areas," he said. "Komar belongs to the elite of our industry." Graduate school is never easy,
but Kawatra makes sure that, for his students, it's not harder than it
has to be. "He has made sure that
all his students get some sort of financial support," Walqui said.
"I found out that the only thing that should worry us was doing research;
any administrative or financial concern was his job." When financial troubles threatened
Ripke's ability to stay in school, Kawatra solved them with scholarship
dollars well above and beyond the customary stipend. "Because of
him, I have been able to finish my degree," Ripke said. Above all, Kawatra makes himself
available to his graduate students, meeting regularly with them as a group
twice weekly, as well as multiple times as individuals. "Even when he was injured
and could barely walk, he would be sure to travel to down so he could
keep in contact with me and his other graduate students," Ripke said. "He has been there to
get me through my research project, to take care of any need I had,"
Walqui said. "His devotion to his students, together with his constant
effort to be the best at what he does, has gained the respect and admiration
of his colleagues and friends." "I do not know if he
will get this award or not," Walqui added. "I only know that,
more than my instructor or my advisor, he is a friend." 9/19/02--MTN103