Two GT- AE professors this week learned that their passion for teaching has been recognized as outstanding by two very different groups.

Two GT-AE professors this week learned that their passion for teaching has been recognized as outstanding by two very different groups.

Dr. Lakshmi Sankar was named as the 2015 recipient of the Dean George C. Griffin Faculty of the Year Award during the Up with the White and Gold Awards ceremony, held April 20.

Dr. Narayanan Komerath learned that he has been chosen as the 2015 recipient of the John Leland Atwood Award, a joint honor bestowed on a top educator by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Aerospace (AIAA) and the Aerospace Division of the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE).

The White and Gold Awards are a Georgia Tech tradition where student organizations, administrative units, staff, and faculty who have made a significant impact are recognized and honored. Dr. Sankar, who recently received the Georgia Tech Women in Engineering Teaching Excellence Award, learned of the White and Gold Award just a day before it was announced.

"It was truly a surprise," said the Regents Professor.

The Leland Atwood Award is named after an early pioneer in the discipline. John Leland Atwood believed that the aviation field would be a cornerstone of our national security and serve as a principal medium of world commerce. He played a major role in the development of aviation and aerospace technologies for more than 50 years.The Award is bestowed by ASEE and endowed by Rockwell Collins. Komerath will be recognized, first at the June ASEE meeting in Seattle, and, then, again, at the AIAA SciTech Forum, to be held in January 2016 in San Diego."It was truly a surprise," said the Regents Professor.

Komerath learned of his newest honor via email earlier this week, after returning home from a work-related trip.

"This is such a tremendous honor," he said. " I need to let this sink in for a couple of days."