This fellowship was established in 1974 by relatives, former students, faculty colleagues, and friends as a memorial to the late John Ruptash, who was Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and later Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research from 1959 to 1973. The fellowship has been awarded annually, beginning in 1975-76, to an outstanding graduate student in the Faculty of Engineering; it may be held in combination with a teaching or research assistantship.