 I'm Andrea Copeland, a junior from Peoria, Illinois, studying chemical engineering with minors in Spanish and Management. I'm a trailblazer with a passion for sustainable consumer products. Through Professor Linda Wong's group, I'm researching plastic waste upcycling and methods for pretreatment of consumer plastics. In my persistent pursuit of the next giant leap, I hope to help accelerate the transition of consumerism from a linear to circular economy. I'm president of STEM Power, helping to inspire the next generation of confident, resilient women in STEM. I'm also a Spanish tutor with Horizon Student Support Services and serve on the Mental Health Committee of the Purdue Engineering Student Council, advocating for student well-being through events, unifying efforts with students and administration to create lasting change to promote community wellness. It's my privilege to introduce the 2021 Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award recipients from the Davidson School of Chemical Engineering. We begin with Joseph S. Alford, a champion of computer process automation and data systems, who substantially improved life science manufacturing. His impressive 35-year career with Eli Lilly & Company began by leading from design to application, computer-based process automation and data historian systems, which resulted in computer systems being installed in all of the company's research, development and manufacturing facilities. He automated the world's first bulk manufacturing plant, making a product with RDNA technology, which was commercial human insulin. He also led the advanced group reviewing emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, developing testing and applications where appropriate, and led quality assurance and computer validation, auditing Lilly systems worldwide for good laboratory and manufacturing practices. Alford's success in biopharma industry can be seen in his published works on bioprocess applications of process analytical technology, also known as PAT, and his work on online mass spectrometry. These have been widely adopted in the pharmaceutical industry. Originally known for technical and administrative abilities, he delivered results on time, on budget, and in compliance with FDA regulations. Alford's persistent pursuit of the next giant leap was recognized with the top three corporate technology awards from Lilly, in engineering, product and process development, and information technology. For his championing of key technical and auditing practices in the biopharma industry, According to the in-house design, development, validation, implementation, and application of computer-based process automation and data historian systems, the College of Engineering is proud to present the Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award to Joseph S. Alford. Our next honoree is Stephen R. Cornell, a global leader in integrated chemicals and energy technologies. He began his career at Exxon as an engineer and supervisor, however roles have increased leadership were just on the horizon for Cornell, both in responsibility and scope around the world, living and working on four continents, and significant roles at Petrofina and Total, before being recruited by BP to lead and transform refinery safety and operations after a major explosion in Texas. His leadership style and prowess with fuel and logistics caught the eye of Sassel limited, and he joined the team in 2014 as executive vice president for international operations. Within two years, he was promoted to a joint CEO position, charged with leading the $30 billion companies operations outside Southern Africa, including his executive sponsor for the Lake Charles Chemicals Project in Louisiana. Cornell is a former chair of the Downstream Committee of the American Petroleum Institute and board member of the American Chemistry Council. In art imitating life, his book Crisis Pending, a fictional thriller set in the world of American oil refineries, was published in 2003. For his exemplary career in the petrochemical and energy industries, formulating new approaches leading to technological innovation and excellence, while successfully managing front end development of multi-billion dollar expansion projects, creating operational and financial improvements, the College of Engineering is proud to present the Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award to Stephen Cornell. To learn more about how Purdue influenced these honorees, please click on their video link below. Boiler up and hail Purdue.