Engineering alumnus receives local young engineer of the year award

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Sherwin Damdar

As an undergraduate in RIT’s Kate Gleason College of Engineering, Sherwin Damdar participated in construction projects in Guyana and a health clinic expansion project in Ethiopia. As a project leader for a local engineering firm, he is helping to develop materials for renewable energy technologies. He’s been able to put his RIT engineering education to good use both locally and internationally.

For his professional and volunteer efforts he was recently named the Rochester Engineering Society Young Engineer of the Year at the society’s gala on April 28. The award is given annually to the profession’s newest members in recognition of their contributions to the workplace, participation in community service and support to advance the profession.

Damdar ’04, a mechanical engineering graduate, is a project leader in the expansion joints division of Garlock Sealing Technologies. He develops and markets gasket material suitable for varied renewable technologies such as solid oxide fuel cells, concentrated solar power and biomass gasification technologies.

It was an especially auspicious year for RIT engineering graduates as five of the nine nominees for the annual awards were alumni. Engineer of the Year finalists included Steven Griffith ’83 (electrical engineering), managing partner, ApplieLogix, LLC. Young Engineer of the Year nominees were Christopher Feuerstein ’08 (electrical engineering), senior electrical engineer, Harris Corp., RF Communications Division; and Jeremy Gerevics ’05 (mechanical engineering), technology team leader, Parker Hannifin.

The Rochester Engineering Society is a local professional organization established in 1897 to promote excellence, innovation, cooperation, professional growth and fellowship in the engineering, scientific and allied professions. Many of RIT’s engineering faculty and local alumni in businesses have represented the society as officers and committee representatives.