UW-River Falls Emeriti Faculty Receive Outstanding Service Awards

March 27, 2012--River Falls residents and former UW-River Falls physics faculty members Curt Larson and Neal Prochnow both received Sigma Pi Sigma Outstanding Service Awards at the UWRF spring Physics Department banquet March 23.

Larson is both an alumnus of UWRF (class of 1960) and an emeriti faculty member of UWRF, teaching physics from 1965 to 2001. He is a charter member of the UWRF chapter of Sigma Pi Sigma, serving as the first chapter advisor. Larson's efforts as professor, advisor and department chair were vital to the growth and success of the physics program at UWRF, including the growth in the membership of Sigma Pi Sigma and the related student organization, the Society of Physics Students. He has continued his support of the program after retirement, including endowing the Curt and Dee Larson Scholarship.

Prochnow is also both an alumnus of UWRF (class of 1962) and an emeriti faculty member of UWRF, teaching physics from 1964 to 1986, at which time he became Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences until 1998. Prochnow is a charter member of the UWRF chapter of Sigma Pi Sigma. During his tenure as faculty member, department chair and dean, he was always supportive of the activities of Sigma Pi Sigma and the Society of Physics Students. He played an important role in the growth and success of the program. He has continued his support of students at UWRF after his retirement, including endowing the Dean Neal Prochnow Arts and Sciences Scholarship.

More background information on the award program can be found at http://www.sigmapisigma.org/awards/outstanding_service.htm.

Photo:  Larson on the left, Prochnow on the right.