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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Melissa Swartz Eta Kappa Nu Recognizes Outstanding ECE Student Achievements Awards to be presented to HKN students demonstrating exceptional talents CHICAGO - January 14, 2010 - Eta Kappa Nu (HKN), the electrical and computer engineering honor society, is pleased to announce that Matthew D. Young (Zeta Gamma chapter, University of Rhode Island) has been named the 2009 HKN Outstanding Electrical and Computer Engineering Student Award (OECES) winner. The award is presented annually to a recent graduate and recognizes outstanding scholastic excellence and high moral character, coupled with demonstrated exemplary service to classmates, university, community, and country. Matthew's mentors at the University of Rhode Island describe him as "inquisitive, driven, passionate, and a nice guy who gets along well with his peers and professors." Matthew excels in the classroom, and since graduating at the top of his class with a double major in Biomedical and Electrical Engineering from the University of Rhode Island, he is continuing his education at Brown University's Warren Alpert School of Medicine. "We are confident that Matt's research will contribute to important advances in the medical field that will benefit society," stated Roger Plummer, HKN Executive Director. "His passion and dedication should carry him far in this critical field." A variety of internships have helped Matthew focus his efforts among engineering, medicine and finance. He eventually hopes to hone the skills from each discipline to launch a successful business. During an internship at the Rhode Island Biomechanics Lab, Matt helped design toys to make physical therapy fun for children with limited mobility due to cerebral palsy or stroke. He also co-authored two conference papers on chemotherapy drugs while interning at the Rhode Island Women and Infant's Hospital. Not all of Matthew's professional experiences have been medical-related, however. Two internships at Venture Capital firms provided insight into the business world where he was an analyst for seed stage venture development in the bio-technology sector and also helped revise a business plan to acquire new stage financing. As an undergraduate at the University of Rhode Island (URI), Matthew was active in a number of organizations and took on many leadership roles. His participation in the Slater Technology Fund, the RI Technology Collective, and also his senior design Capstone project involved networking with local businesses to build relationships with URI faculty and departments and provide funding for future projects. He was president of the National Society of Leadership and Success, the largest student organization on campus, and as co-chair of the Patient Advocates Fundraise for Women's Oncology at Women & Infant's Hospital, Matt helped raise $60,000 for charity. Matt is not only a member of Eta Kappa Nu, but also Tau Beta Pi, Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Phi, and has received the President's Academic Excellence Award and the Lengyel Award for Student Excellence in Biomedical Engineering. Matt was selected the 2009 OECES award winner from a number of very strong candidates. Thomas Rothwell, award committee chair and LA Alumni chapter president emeritus, commented, "It was clear that each of the candidates was strong academically, but what made the decision difficult were their wide variety of community, professional, honor and leadership activities, employment and other supplemental interests that proved their well roundedness. All of the candidates will be successful in both their personal and professional lives if they continue on the paths they have laid out for themselves." The OECES Award Committee is also pleased to announce the following awardees: Honorable Mention: Finalist: All awardees will be recognized at the 26th Annual Conference of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Heads Association (ECEDHA) March 15, 2010, in Clearwater, Florida. The HKN Board of Governors will present Young with a plaque, certificate and financial grant. The grant and his lodging will be supported through the Alton B. Zerby and Carl T. Koerner Memorial Funds. The Outstanding Electrical and Computer Engineering Student Award is managed by HKN's Los Angeles Alumni chapter, where a chapter committee screens the Nominees to 5 to 10 Candidates, whose dossiers are submitted to a carefully selected Jury of Award of 4 or 5, leaders in the ECE profession, who operate independently to rank order the Candidates for the final decision. This volunteer Jury of Award reviews the dossiers of the outstanding Candidate students, and evaluates their academic achievements; leadership positions; and services to the department, university and community, and considers the high standards of character for which Eta Kappa Nu members are known. All undergraduate HKN chapters are encouraged to submit nominations by June 30, 2010. Nomination forms and requirements are available on-line at www.hkn.org. For more information, visit www.hkn.org or contact Melissa Swartz at +1-800-406-2590 or Melissa@hkn.org. About Eta Kappa Nu (HKN) About the IEC In conjunction with industry-leading companies, the IEC has developed an extensive, free on-line educational program. The IEC conducts industry-university programs that have a substantial impact on curricula. It also conducts research and develops publications, conferences, and technological exhibits that address major opportunities and challenges of the information age. More than 70 leading high-technology universities are IEC affiliates, and the IEC handles the affairs of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Heads Association and Eta Kappa Nu, the honor society for electrical and computer engineers. Visit www.iec.org.
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