John E. Kelly III '76, a Union trustee and senior vice president of technology at IBM, received the Davies Medal for Engineering Achievement from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Alumni Association on Dec. 7, 2006.
Kelly, who earned his doctorate from Rensselaer two years after graduating from Union, also was keynote speaker at the Institute's 2006 Trustee Celebration of Faculty Achievement where he spoke on “A Formula for Innovation.”
The Davies Medal for Engineering Achievement recognizes a Rensselaer alumnus for a distinguished career of engineering achievement, public service, and technical and managerial accomplishments. It is named for Clarence E. Davis, a 1914 graduate who was one of the Institute's most accomplished, active, and loyal alumni.
Kelly, a longtime supporter of Union's interdisciplinary endeavors, last winter spoke at the dedication of the John E. Kelly III '76 Digital Arts Lab, where he said, “My Union experience meant so much to me; it was such a tipping point in my life.”