Eight distinguished alumni of the Michigan State University College of Engineering were honored with 2026 Alumni Awards on Saturday, April 25, at MSU’s Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center. MSU Engineering also recognized a high school educator whose noteworthy efforts to teach technical education and computer science reflect positively on MSU and the college.
Interim Engineering Dean John Papapolymerou said the annual celebration honors graduates for their outstanding professional and personal accomplishments. Awards are presented each spring in East Lansing.
“These world-class alumni are living examples of how Spartan Engineers improve our communities and world every day,” Papapolymerou said. “We extend our sincere congratulations to each of them and celebrate their accomplishments and impact.”
See photos and read more on the 2026 Alumni Award winners here.
The Claud R. Erickson Distinguished Alumni Award
Receiving the 2026 Claud R. Erickson Distinguished Alumni Award is David L. Lamp, who has more than four decades of technical, commercial, and operational experience in the refining and chemical industries. He is former president and chief executive officer of CVR Energy, Inc.
The Erickson Award is the highest alumni honor presented by the College of Engineering. It recognizes professional accomplishments, volunteer service, and distinguished service to the college and the engineering profession.
David is past executive chairman of CVR Partners, LP, a position he held since December 2017. He was chairman of its board of directors from January 2018 until March 2023. Prior to joining CVR Energy, he served as president and chief operating officer of Western Refining, Inc. from July 2016 to June 2017. David retired in December 2025.
In 2014, he created the $2 million David L. and Denise M. Lamp Endowed Chair in Chemical Engineering to support faculty research. He has also funded an endowed scholarship and an endowed fellowship for undergraduate and graduate students in chemical engineering.
David earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from MSU in 1980. He is from a family of Spartan graduates, including his father (Ph.D.) and three sisters, who earned bachelor’s degrees.
His wife, Denise, is a 1978 psychology graduate of Oakland University. The couple lives in Dallas, Texas.
The other 2026 alumni awards were presented to:
Applied Engineering Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award
- Charles Kosmas, B.S., 1990
Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award
- Pete A. Muñoz, PE, LEED AP, B.S., 1999
Red Cedar Circle Award in Chemical Engineering and Materials Sciences
- Matthew Neurock, B.S.,1986
Civil and Environmental Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award
- Cindy Westerhof, B.S., 1979
Computer Science and Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award
- Salil Prabhakar, Ph.D., 2001
John D. Ryder Electrical and Computer Engineering Alumni Award
- Ray Owen, B.S., 1979
Mechanical Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award
- Keith Sultana, B.S., 1992
Green Apple Teaching Award
- Julie Tafelski
Written by Patricia Mroczek
MSU College of Engineering Media and Public Relations page