Bryan Ricksecker Receives the AIChE Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer National Scholarship

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Posted on October 9, 2014 by Kelly Jackson

Kelly Jackson

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Bryan Ricksecker, a Chemical Engineering Senior, is a recipient of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer National Scholarship. This $1,000 scholarship is awarded to only 15 students nationally. Ricksecker is the first University of South Alabama student to ever be awarded this scholarship.

Dr. Christy Wheeler West, Ricksecker’s Faculty Advisor and the advisor for USA’s AIChE student chapter, nominated him for this award. Each school is allowed one nominee for consideration each year.

“In addition to his very outstanding academic performance, Bryan has taken on student leadership roles in our department, our college, and the University,” Dr. West says.  “He approaches these challenges with excellence and integrity, and is quite deserving of the Othmer award.”

Ricksecker currently serves as USA’s Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society chapter president. He has also been awarded several other engineering awards and honors, including Tau Beta Pi National Scholarship, John Stark Scholarship, Chevron Scholarship, Sophomore Academic Excellence Award, and the Dr. Jagdish C. Dhawan “Top Sophomore” Book Award. He is also a member of The Southerners, a group of students who serve as the official ambassadors for the University of South Alabama.

Over the summer, Ricksecker interned with Phillips 66 in Belle Chasse, Louisiana. He has recently accepted an offer of full-time employment with Phillips 66 as a Process Engineer upon graduation in May 2015.

“We greatly look forward to Bryan joining our dedicated team after his upcoming graduation, and we congratulate him on his recent, prestigious recognition,” said Phillips 66 Alliance Refinery Manager Greg Lucchesi.

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