The Dean's Medal for Engineering Achievement is awarded posthumously to Gregory B. Jarvis in recognition of his commitment to engineering excellence and his ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of engineering advancement.

A 1967 BSEE graduate of UB, he distinguished the school of engineering and the University by being selected in 1984 to participate in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's space shuttle program. Following his UB years he earned a Masters degree from Northeastern and spent a period as an engineer at Raytheon. He received, in 1969, an Air Force commission and was assigned to the Space Division in El Segundo, California as a communications payload engineer in the satellite communications program. Upon separation in 1973 at the rank of Captain, he joined Hughes Aircraft Company's Space and Communications Group where he held several engineering and management positions. In 1978 he joined the Hughes Advanced Program Laboratory which led to his being chosen for the shuttle program.

His opportunity to travel in space came on January 28, 1986 with the launch of the ill-fated shuttle mission, 51-L. Aboard as a payload specialist, he was killed with his fellow crew members of the Challenger, Christa McAuliffe, Ronald E. McNair, Ellison S. Onizuka, Judith Resnik, Francis Scobee, and Michael J. Smith.

Prior to his death, communication with Greg was frequent; all followed the before-flight preparation, the launch, and the tragic results. The school of engineering was honored when he delivered the May 1985 Commencement principal address. In that address he challenged the graduating students with the following statement:

Further recognizing his alma mater, he carried a UB flag on the Challenger flight. The flag represented to him, “a small token for the way they (UB) unlocked my future.”

After the tragedy, accolades and words of comfort from around the world honored the Challenger crew; two presented at UB's memorial service provide perspective to the happening.