National Council of Architectural Registration Boards President C. William Bevins, FAIA, (2001-2002) awarded the Presidential Medal for distinguished service to six individuals associated with the Council who have made significant contributions to the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare through their service to NCARB and to the practice of architecture.

The medals were awarded at the close of NCARB's Annual Meeting and Conference, held last month in Boston, Massachusetts. The Presidential Medal awards program was established in 1994 to recognize those individuals who dedicate a large part of their careers, energy, and wisdom to benefit the work of NCARB, the public and the architectural profession. Recipients of the Presidential Medals for 2002 are:

Katherine Lee Schwennsen, FAIA, of Ames, Iowa, is an accomplished educator and administrator at Iowa State University where she serves as associate dean for academic programs at the College of Design, and associate professor in the Department of Architecture. She has held leadership roles within NCARB, the American Institute of Architects and the American Architectural Foundation. Schwennsen combines the perspectives of both practitioner and educator, and currently serves as a vice president for the AIA's national executive committee. She is a former chair and member of the Iowa Architectural Examiners Board. Schwennsen is the first female architect to preside over AIA Iowa, a position she held in 1997-1998.

Joseph Brocato, Jr., AIA, of Alexandria, Louisiana, led one of NCARB's most important committees: the Committee on Examination (COE). Through Brocato's long-term involvement, the COE investigated methods to improve the Architect Registration Examination, the nine-division test taken by all candidates in the U.S. and Canada seeking architectural licensing. Brocato is greatly esteemed for his achievements as a former chair and member of the Louisiana Board and as a leader in the Council's Southern Conference.

As director of the New Mexico Board of Examiners for Architects, David J. Knauer has implemented a variety of activities that demonstrates "customer service" at its best. Among his innovative ideas is a series of continuing education courses that are accessible—and worth CE credits for registrants—on the board's web site. He is the first state-level administrator to chair one of NCARB's national-level committee. Knauer serves as an example, mentor and friend to fellow administrators, and advisor, counselor and conscience to architects throughout the country.

Manuel Barclay Galindo, president of the Federation of Architects' Colleges of the Mexican Republic, is recognized for supporting the efforts of North American architects to maintain international mutual relationships, with the mutual recognition of architectural credentials as a final goal. Last fall, Barclay Galindo led a delegation of Mexican architects that hosted the first full meeting of the Tri-National Committee held since 1997. The Tri-National Committee was created to consider the issues of international reciprocity among Canada, Mexico and the United States resulting from the NAFTA Agreement. Barclay Galindo is recognized as one Mexico's foremost authorities on regional and urban planning.

Randall L. Romanin, FRAIC, is honored for his distinguished service both to the Council directly and for supporting the efforts of North American architects to maintain international mutual relationships, with the mutual recognition of architectural credentials as a final goal. As chair of the Committee of Canadian Architectural Councils (CCAC) this past year, Romanin played a decisive role at the Tri-National Committee meeting held in Mexico City. He also supported a now-historic and ongoing achievement: the reciprocal registration of U.S. and Canadian architects based on mutually accepted standards of education, training and examination. Romanin is a past president of the Ontario Association of Architects and a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.

For more than 20 years, Robert A. Rosenfeld, AIA, has distinguished himself as one of the Council's most committed and respected employees. He joined NCARB as its first director of internship programs, and he has been personally identified ever since with nurturing this pilot project into a robust internship program that has been adopted by virtually all of the Council's Member Boards and recognized by all of architecture's collateral organizations. Now the director of Council Record services, he has for many years staffed a number of NCARB's most important committees. He also worked with consultants both to develop the Broadly Experienced Architect process and to improve NCARB's customer service.