June 10, 2026
By Tracie Troha

Georgia Tech alumnus and faculty member Tim Lieuwen, M.S. ME 1997, Ph.D. ME 1999, has donated his American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Medal — the society’s highest honor — to the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering. The $14,000 gold medal is displayed in the School Chair’s suite, where it serves as a symbol of excellence and achievement for students, faculty, and visitors.

Lieuwen, the executive vice president for Research and Regents’ Professor in the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, received the ASME medal in 2025 in recognition of his pioneering contributions to combustion, clean energy, and the science of resilient energy systems. It is the first ASME Medal ever awarded to a Georgia Tech faculty member or graduate, marking a milestone both for Lieuwen and the Institute.

Lieuwen said his decision to donate the medal came from a deep sense of gratitude for the School that launched his career.

“I came to Georgia Tech in 1995 as a grad student,” he said. “Georgia Tech took a chance on me. The faculty, the instruction, and the mentors I had here shaped my trajectory. I’m incredibly appreciative of the opportunities the Institute and the School of Mechanical Engineering gave me.”

Carolyn Seepersad, Eugene C. Gwaltney, Jr. School Chair and professor, emphasized the impact the medal will have on students who see it on display.

“The ASME gold medal is the highest award that ASME can bestow on one of its members,” she said. “It’s incredible for our students to see that this award was bestowed on one of our own graduates. It validates all of the late nights, impossible assignments, and demanding projects, and helps all of us appreciate our true potential as Woodruff School graduates. The sky is truly the limit.”

Lieuwen hopes the medal’s presence will remind students that excellence is within reach.

“I want them to see what’s possible. Georgia Tech opened a door for me, and I hope this medal reminds students that those same possibilities are open to them,” he said.