PRD senior receives 2025 Maurice A. Clay Award

Austin Hirtzel, product design senior, was named the 2025  Maurice A. Clay Award recipient for the UK College of Design. 

Maurice A. Clay was an educator and professor at UK for more than 60 years. He was the epitome of service leadership, while assuming little recognition for himself. Established more than 30 years ago, the Maurice A. Clay Award honors one outstanding graduating senior from each academic college. Recipients exemplify academic excellence, leadership and dedicated service to their college community.

Hirtzel is actively engaged in his studies, currently completing his senior thesis. He is also a member of the UK student chapter of the Industrial Designers Society of America. In addition to his academic pursuits, Hirtzel serves as an Ambassador for the Commercialization Team within the Office of Technology Commercialization at the University of Kentucky. He is also the founder of TriStacker, a sustainable toy designed to grow with children from ages 0 to 3. TriStacker was recognized as one of the winning startups in the Fall 2024 Bootcamp 1.0 hosted by the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship.

Hirtzel received the award at Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society,  annual Awards Night and Induction Ceremony, held in the Singletary Center for the Arts President’s Room. His nominator and PRD Department Chair Jon Mills presented the award to Hirtzel. 

To see a full list of 2025 Maurice A. Clay Award winners from across UK, click here.