C.R. “Chuck” Pennoni, founder and Chairman of Pennoni Associates Inc., Consulting Engineers, was awarded the 2017 Engineering Leader of the Year Award on Thursday, March 9 at the Logan Hotel Philadelphia.
Over 150 Drexel alumni, benefactors, faculty, students and staff were in attendance to witness the Drexel President and Trustee Emeritus accept the award.
A highlight of this year’s event was the establishment of the Chuck Pennoni Civil Engineering Fellowship Fund. Each year, $4,750 will be given to a deserving Civil Engineering graduate student, to be selected by the Department Head of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering. The fund was initiated with $100,000 resulting primarily from sponsorships of the ELOY event.
The evening began with guests gathering for a pre-dinner reception to mingle with old friends and colleagues, as well as a smaller private reception for a select group of Drexel Engineering students to meet with President Fry, Dean Giuseppe Palmese, and the guest of honor, Chuck Pennoni.
President Fry opened the dinner by thanking the event sponsors and the Board of Trustees. He then spoke about Mr. Pennoni’s history and accomplishments – noting how his education and experience helped carve his legacy at Drexel as a teacher, leader, donor, trustee, and the only two-time president in Drexel’s history. President Fry’s remarks were followed up by Interim Dean Giuseppe Palmese who spoke about some of the amazing things our Engineering students are involved in as well as some of the structural changes happening on campus. Giuseppe then introduced Steven Mendoza, a class of 2018 Civil Engineering major who recently completed his co-op with Pennoni Associates. Steven spoke about his time at Pennoni Associates and thanked our honoree:
“I want to thank Chuck Pennoni for cultivating a work environment that promotes young engineers, such as myself, to develop professional and meaningful relationships within the engineering field. Thank you for allowing the students of Drexel University to work for you through many successful co-ops and full time opportunities.”
Dean Palmese then awarded Mr. Pennoni the Engineering Leader of the Year. Accepting the award, Chuck regaled the audience with a few stories of his beginnings, and thanking his wife Annette, as well as his family, friends, and associates. He then enlightened the room with a few notes about the current state of engineering in the United States.