6/19/2012 Meredith Staub
Written by Meredith Staub
Mechanical Engineering student Luke Zaczek is the 2012 recipient of the Harvey H. Jordan Award, the highest academic award given by the College of Engineering.
The Harvey H. Jordan Award is given to only one engineering student per graduating class. The award is given based on high scholastic standing and character. Each graduating senior with a 4.0 GPA goes through a rigorous interview process by the college awards subcommittee, who selects one of these students to receive the award.
Zaczek wasn’t sure about majoring in mechanical engineering, coming into the university as a freshman in 2008.
“I knew I wanted to go into something where I could build things,” Zaczek said. “I ended up really liking it.”
His favorite classes in the department were the fluid dynamics and heat transfer classes that he took with Professor Dimitrios Kyritsis, whom he described as “such an animated and engaging professor.” He also really enjoyed materials classes with Professor Stephen Downing. In the Spring 2012 semester, taking a class on combustion engines with Professor Chia-Fon Lee changed his mind about the research he might want to go into in graduate school.
“I’m definitely going to make sure I keep in touch with all of them when I leave here,” Zaczek said.
Outside of academics, Zaczek has been involved in: Pi Tau Sigma, the engineering honors fraternity; Engineering Initiatives, a student organization that tries to improve the student experience within the College of Engineering; Habitat for Humanity; the University of Illinois chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers; and the Dean’s Student Advisory Committee.
The recipient of the Harvey H. Jordan Award traditionally makes a speech at the awards convocation luncheon for the College of Engineering. For his speech, he decided to define what he thought engineering really meant.
“It’s not about equations or building things,” Zaczek said. “It’s just the desire to help people and make the world a better place.”
He will be attending Stanford in the fall, doing research with Professor Ron Hanson in gas dynamics and high-pressure combustion.
“I’ve had an amazing time here,” Zaczek said. “The professors and the staff are super friendly and super helpful…It’s just been a wonderful experience.”