Dottie Welch Student Enrichment Award

Mason Garlatti earns Dottie Welch Student Enrichment Award

A staff member from the Department of Chemical Engineering who has been lauded by students for his exemplary commitment received the Hajim School’s annual award for student enrichment. Senior Technical Associate Mason Garlatti won the 2024 Dottie Welch Student Enrichment Award, which recognizes a Hajim School staff member “whose performance and dedication enriches the student experience in the tradition exemplified by Dottie Welch.”

Garlatti assists chemical engineering students in the department’s laboratories and was praised for his help while they worked on their senior design projects. One student Garlatti assisted with a senior design project called him “patient and helpful, always willing to provide feedback and tools and whatever else students may need.”

Another student noted that Garlatti “supported our class’s senior lab and senior design projects eagerly and was always exceedingly approachable and helpful. As the advisor of my senior design project, he provided his time and expertise to support our work, even driving all the way to Buffalo to pick up a critical item we needed for our project. He is passionate about our project and supporting our learning. He makes learning about chemical engineering fun and exciting for all of us. Thanks to him, I always look forward to working on my project and putting in my absolute best effort.”

The award is named after a revered and longtime undergraduate program coordinator for the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Welch was heralded as the "go to" person for a steadily growing number of undergraduate students regarding everything that pertains to their academic lives. The award was established upon her retirement in 2013.