The prestigious Fred W. Gottschalk Memorial Award, named for the first President of the Society, recognizes exceptional service to FPS by an individual member.

Dr. Gloria Oporto has been an active member of FPS since 2006 and serves in multiple capacities, including leading efforts to organize education and workforce development technical sessions at FPS conferences, being a faculty advisor for the West Virginia University FPS Student Chapter, and attending and presenting at FPS conferences. She was a co-chair of the 2023 FPS International Conference at Morgantown, WV and has served on the FPS International Nominating Committee. Now, she’s also leading work on the “Women in the Forestry and Wood Sciences” program to create a group of women in the Natural Resources field, with emphasis in Forestry and Wood Products.

The Wood Engineering Achievement Award recognizes accomplishments and innovations in the discipline of wood engineering including structures, structural elements, building codes, consensus standards, design procedures and education.

Dr. Rado Gazo has been a Professor of Wood Processing and Industrial Engineering at Purdue University since 1997. Dr. Gazo has educated students, industry professionals, and the public about the applications of industrial engineering and operation research techniques to problems in primary and secondary wood products manufacturing industries. His research and development activities have focused on evaluating tree, log, and lumber quality using CT, laser, and image scanning techniques. His efforts led to the first commercially available industrial-grade CT scanner and related optimization software, as well as the first successful automated hardwood lumber grading system. Dr. Gazo also created Hardwood University for the continued education of hardwood industry professionals and landowners in the Central Hardwood region. Dr. Rado has worked with over 100 companies, published over 150 publications, and given more than 100 professional presentations about secondary wood products manufacturing.

Aadarsha Lamichhane

Mississippi State University

“Engineered Wood Cellular Beams: Influence of Corrugated Panels Layout on Structural Performance”

The Wood Award recognizes the most outstanding graduate student research conducted in the field of wood and wood products.

Xuan Wang

University of North Texas

“Bioinspired self-flowing wood chemical treatment”

Wood Award papers describe original research on a wide range of topics, including harvesting and forest operations, product development and manufacture, fundamental properties, end-use applications, and distribution and marketing.

The Distinguished Service Award is presented to the individual who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to the Forest Products Society and biomaterials industry as a whole. The award recipient will have contributed to the society and the industry throughout their career through research, society leadership positions, and service.

Dr. Terry Liles has long been a leader in the FPS and the forest products industry. Dr. Liles served as the FPS President in 2021-2022, chaired the 2021 FPS International Conference, and served on organizing committees for the FPS BTF-BPI conferences. He has held leadership positions as many of the major forest products companies, including Huber Engineered Wood, Georgia-Pacific Chemicals, and BASF. Dr. Liles has also served as chair for the ASTM D14 committee on adhesives and is also a board member of the University of Tennessee Data Science Institute.