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CORVALLIS, Ore. - Donald Pettit, who returned to Earth in May aboard a Russian spacecraft after six months on the International Space Station, will be honored with the prestigious Distinguished Service Award from Oregon State University - his alma mater - during OSU's commencement ceremony on June 15.

Pettit will be unable to attend the ceremony because of NASA's post-orbit flight restrictions, but will accept the award, either via live television or videotape. He also is planning to return to Oregon in the fall.

"I am deeply moved that Oregon State University, where I received a first-rate education in chemical engineering, has decided to honor me in this way," Pettit said. "I am honored and excited to accept this award."

Tim White, Oregon State's president, said Pettit's courage, commitment to science and education, and his "grace under pressure" have made the 1978 chemical engineering alumnus an inspiration to the OSU community and beyond.

"Don Pettit showed his mettle during the aftermath of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia," White said. "He mourned the loss of his colleagues, yet showed complete confidence in the space program, and in the scientists and engineers from the U.S. and Russia who ultimately helped him and his fellow astronauts continue with their experiments and then return to Earth.

"During his stint in space, he made time to visit via interactive downlink with OSU students and faculty, and they will not forget that experience," White added. Pettit was scheduled to return to Earth after four months, but his stay aboard the International Space Station was extended until May after the Columbia tragedy. Initially a backup crew member, Pettit was selected for the expedition last fall when another astronaut was medically disqualified.

While aboard the space station, Pettit served as flight engineer and science officer for the three-man Expedition-6 crew that included American Ken Bowersox and Russian Nikolai Budarin.

During his space stay, Pettit also performed two space walks.

Pettit visited with OSU faculty and students during a 20-minute video link, during which a student asked the astronaut to smile for the camera. Pettit responded by floating upside down and cracking up his audience by saying, "I'll just sit up here on the ceiling for a while."

Ron Adams, dean of the OSU College of Engineering, said Pettit has visited the college several times. He hopes to persuade Pettit to teach classes at the university upon his NASA retirement.

"Don's experience and his ability to connect with students make him a natural," Adams said.

After Pettit graduated from OSU in 1978, he went on to earn a doctorate in chemical engineering from the University of Arizona in 1983. He served as staff scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico from 1984 to 1996, then completed two years of training and evaluation, qualifying for flight selection. On several occasions, Pettit has said that since he was a kid, he has wanted to fly in space.

"I remember John Glenn flying in space," he recalled, "and since then I've wanted to be like him."