Class of 2005 - Caryn Nicole Homsher
Local student honored at Kettering
Caryn Nicole Homsher, daughter of Carl and Laurene Homsher of Fremont, received the Kettering University President’s Medal of Honor, the university’s highest award, at a special breakfast on Saturday, June 12 before KU’s commencement.
The President’s Medal honors graduates who earn outstanding scholastic achievement; demonstrate professionalism on the job in their respective co-op employment; and share significant community service on and off campus. Four President’s Medals were awarded to the graduating class of 300 and Homsher was the only female earning the honor.
Homsher graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and received numerous other collegiate awards, including Phi Eta Sigma Outstanding Scholarship Award for Freshmen; 2009 Woman of the Year Award for Outstanding Scholastic and Community Service; Tau Beta Pi National Honor Society Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement in Engineering; Kappa Mu Epsilon National Honor Society Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Mathematics; Gamma Sigma Epsilon National Honor Society Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Chemistry; the National Order of Omega National Honor Society Award recognizing Outstanding Leadership in Inter-Greek Activities; and an Honorary Award from Theta Xi Fraternity for Outstanding Scholastic, Co-Op, Inter-Greek and on-and-off campus Community Service.
Homsher served as treasurer of the Alpha Phi Sorority, whose primary purpose is to raise funds and share community service for Women’s Health and Heart Issues.
Homsher began her co-op employment at Dura Automotive in Fremont, then moved to Bendix CDS in Elyria, Ohio, where she was nominated for her outstanding on-the-job accomplishments. While at Bendix, she completed her undergraduate thesis entitled “Investigation into Hexavalent-Free Chromate Conversion Coating Process for Non-Ferrous Materials.” She studied and computed the effects of different chromates on various non-ferrous metals.
She said that her most fulfilling project was completed in her Senior Design Class where she and two group members designed and fabricated a Multi-Sensory Board for mentally, physically and sight challenged youth for Webb Elementary School in Ferndale. The sensory board contained a variety of textures (sandpaper, sponges, Kooshballs, thera-bands, etc.) and included special LED lighting for students to stimulate their mental, fine motor and dexterity skills. Her professor declared that this was one of the top projects ever designed in his tenure.
In the first term of her senior year at KU, she was accepted into the Study Abroad Program and earned credits at the Esslingen University of Applied Sciences in Esslingen, Germany. Her fluency in German assisted many of her international classmates.
Homsher was a four-year Resident Assistant on campus and served four years as a KU Tour Guide for prospective students and faculty. She also found time on campus to referee intramural water polo and volleyball; she earned her wet and dry suit scuba diving certification; volunteered at the Flint Children’s Museum promoting math and science in an after school program; mentored at the Home of Mercy Shelter for Pregnant Women and Teens; regularly attended St. Michael’s Catholic Church and The German Church of God in Flint and maintained her affiliate membership in both the Fremont and Elyria Lions Clubs.
Homsher has accepted a full Graduate Fellowship beginning in August 2010 to study Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado. Her intent is to earn both Masters and Ph.D. degrees to teach Mechanical Engineering at the collegiate level.
7/7/2010 Times Indicator Article (p. 7)
Times Indicator