An internationally respected researcher and world-acclaimed entertainment executive are the recipients of this year's Distinguished Alumni Award.

Each year, McMaster recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves through outstanding scholarship, research, creative contributions to the arts and sciences and service to society.

Recognized at fall convocation Friday, this year's recipients are Gary Purdy and Jay Firestone.

Gary Purdy

Known and respected internationally as a researcher in the field of microstructure development in engineering materials, Gary Purdy's career has been marked by his scholarship, dedication, breadth of vision and compassion.

Purdy graduated from McMaster University with a PhD in metallurgical engineering in 1962. He came to McMaster after completing bachelor's and master's degrees in engineering at the University of Alberta. As a researcher in microstructure development in engineering materials, Purdy has made major contributions to the knowledge base in the areas of multicomponent effects in diffusion and phase transformations; structures and properties of solid-solid interfaces; and phase transformations involving interfacial diffusion. He has supervised the research of some 40 senior undergraduates, 50 graduate degree candidates; and has advised more than 40 postdoctoral fellows, research associates and visiting scholars.

In collaboration with industrial partners, he has contributed to the understanding and control of materials production and fabrication processes. Some recent examples include the solidification processing of copper-based alloys, thermal/mechanical processing of advanced steels, and aluminum alloy fabrication.

Purdy has been recognized with numerous honours and awards including the Dipltme de Docteur Honoris Causa from the Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble, a Fellowship in the Royal Society of Canada, the Canadian Metal Physics Medal, and an honorary professorship at the University of Science and Technology, Beijing P.R.C. Most recently, Purdy was elected foreign associate of the National Academy of Engineering in the U.S.

Jay Firestone

With 18 years experience in the film and television industry, Jay Firestone is one of the international entertainment industry's most experienced film and television executives.

Firestone graduated from McMaster University with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1979. Moving quickly into the entertainment industry, Firestone was a founder of what is now Alliance-Atlantis Entertainment. After building Alliance-Atlantis into the number one media company in Canada he established Fireworks Entertainment in 1996 to produce, distribute and finance television programs and feature films. Acquired by CanWest Global Communications Corp. in May 1998, Fireworks is now the core operation of CanWest Entertainment, giving CanWest a major presence in television and film production and distribution. As the former chairman and chief executive officer of CanWest Entertainment, Firestone oversaw the company's Los Angeles and London based television operations, as well as its Los Angeles based feature film division Fireworks Pictures, responsible for such films as Rules of Engagement, Rat Race, Hardball, An American Rhapsody, awarded Best Picture at the 2001 Hollywood Film Festival, and The Believer, awarded the Grand Jury Award at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival and Best Picture at the 2001 Moscow International Film Festival.

Over the course of his career, Firestone has served as producer for numerous television series including Mutant X, Relic Hunter, La Femme Nikita, Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda, Black Hole High, Caitlin's Way, Being Eve, Real Kids Real Adventures and Pacific Blue, the miniseries Blonde and A Wrinkle in Time.

Firestone's work has garnered a number of industry awards, including a Gemini Award for Reboot, ABC's first CGI animated series, and Chrysler Canada's People's Choice Award for Nikita. Firestone was also nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year in 1998.

Firestone sits on the Board of Directors of the ATAS (Academy of Television Arts & Sciences) International Council in Los Angeles, and is a member of the Honorary Committee for the Monte Carlo Television Festival.