Dr. Patricia "Pat" Obenauf (1932-2017)
Pat attended Alverno College and Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. She then began her professional career by teaching elementary and secondary math and science in schools in the Midwest and throughout the Mississippi Delta. After obtaining her Ed.D. in science education and curriculum and instruction from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville in 1973, she began her higher education career at WVU.
She served as a professor, administrator, researcher, advisor and scholar for more than 40 years. She has chaired nearly 80 doctoral student committees, written several grants, and was a powerful voice for several science education initiatives across West Virginia.
Obenauf is most known for her open and honest approach to students. She has always shown a genuine interest in her students’ hopes, dreams and ambitions and has been known to go above and beyond to inspire, mentor and assist aspiring teachers with embracing their full potential.
As an organization, we are deeply committed to supporting and celebrating the energy, enthusiasm, and intelligence that our graduate students bring to both MAASTE and ASTE. This award is designed to support graduate student travel to the national ASTE conference. This $500 award is designed to cover registration and is open to all graduates students within our region with an advisor who is an active MAASTE member. In order to be considered, graduate students must be the lead author on an accepted presentation for the national ASTE conference and present that project (or similar project) as a lead author for the MAASTE conference.
Eligible students who wish to be considered for the award will need to declare their interest when they register for the MAASTE conference and include a letter of support from their advisor. Presenting graduate students will be scored by veteran MAASTE members during their presentation and winner of the award will be announced at the close of the conference. Lastly, winners will be featured on the MAASTE website for the year of their award.
2025-2026
Congratulations to Toluwalase G. Salako!
Presentation Titled: University Engineering Mentorship Program Influences on Community College Students’ College and Career Intentions.