The Albuquerque Section of the Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (IEEE), announces the winners of its 2017 Excellence Awards competition in several categories. The Albuquerque Section represents the interests of IEEE members in the greater Albuquerque area. The IEEE is the largest professional organization in the world with ~ 400,000 members, 300 local Sections and 1,150 Chapters in 10 Regions worldwide.

The awards banquet was held at Delish on 15 May with the presence of IEEE and Sigma Xi officers, members, and guests.

2017 IEEE Albuquerque Section Officers: From left to right: Ray Byrne – vice Chair, Gilberto Zamora – Treasurer, Jason Neely – Chair, and Lee Rashkin – Secretary:

The 2017 IEEE awards were presented by the Section Chair, Jason Neely

The 2017 IEEE award winners are:

2017 IEEE Outstanding Engineer
David Schoenwald, Sandia National Laboratories; Nominator: Ray Byrne.

2017 IEEE Presidential Scholar
David Balata, Computer Science Department; Sponsor: Jason Neely.

2017 IEEE Albuquerque Section Outstanding Young Engineers
Sheng Liu, Sandia National Laboratories; Nominator: Igal Brener

Zhen Peng, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Nominator: Edl Schamiloglu

2017 IEEE Albuquerque Section Outstanding Graduate student

Hamide Siedfaraji, Electrical & Computer Engineering; Nominator: Christos Christodoulou

Sadhvikas Addamane, Electrical & Computer Engineering; Nominator: Ganesh Balakrishnan

2017 Albuquerque Section IEEE Fellows
Raymond Byrne, Sandia National Labs
Bryan Oliver, Sandia National Labs

The UNM Sigma Xi Chapter announces the winners of its Excellence Awards competition for 2017.  The UNM Chapter of Sigma Xi is dedicated to furthering the goals of Sigma Xi in the Albuquerque area. It recognizes individuals in our community who excel in science and engineering research and teaching. For more than 3 decades the Chapter has co-sponsored a Distinguished Lecture Series on Science & Society themes to inform New Mexicans about important science issues of the day that impact their lives.

The 2017 UNM Sigma Xi Chapter officers (from left to right: Ray Byrne – President, Harjit Ahluwalia, Mike Jackovich, George Oltman, and Jackie Ericksen):

The 2017 Sigma Xi awards were presented by the UNM Chapter President, Ray Byrne:

2017 Junior Division Finalists at the Central New Mexico Science & Engineering Challenge

The Central New Mexico Science & Engineering Research Challenge awardees in the Junior Division and ISEF finalists were feted on Thursday, 27 April 2017 at the EXPLORA (near the Museum of Natural History and Science)

Isabella Thomas, Immanuel Lutheran Middle School, Animal Sciences
Bijan Tabrizian, Cleveland Middle School, Behavioral & Social Sciences
Angelina Espindola, Prince of Peace Lutheran Middle School, Biology & Microbiology
Aidan Fitzgerald, Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science, Chemistry
Violet Frazier, Jefferson Middle School, Computer Science ) Lindsey Dunbar, Jefferson Middle School, Earth & Environmental Sciences
Cole Romig, Jefferson Middle School, Engineering
Ana Maria Perez, Albuquerque Academy, Mathematical Sciences
Milidu Jayaweera, Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science, Medicine & Health Sciences
Oliver Reuben, Jefferson Middle School, Physics & Astronomy
Henry Dryden, Jefferson Middle School, Plant Sciences
Liam McGee, Jefferson Middle School, Energy & Transportation

2017 Finalists for the INTEL International Science & Engineering Fair, Los Angeles.
Jarek Kwiecinski, Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science
Fernando Guerrero & Richard Romero, Early College Academy
Skyler Hughes, Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science
Rusty Ludwigsen, Rio Rancho High School

2017 Outstanding Science and Math Teachers
Reggie Tyler, Science Teacher, Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science, Nominator: Bobby Cordova

Philip Watje, Math Teacher, Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science, Nominator: Bobby Cordova

2017 Superior Undergraduate Students
Corey Carlos, Electrical & Computer Engineering; Nominator: Rebecca Kreitinger
Kalyn Rose Thayer, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Nominator: Karlett Parra

2017 Excellence in Graduate Research
Jessie Williamson, Biology Department, Nominator: Christopher Witt

Yamhilette Licon Munoz, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Department; Nominator: Karlett Parra

Aidan Kelly Grummer, Physics & Astronomy Department; Nominator: Sally Seidel
 2017 Sigma Xi Noteworthy Technical Support Person
Anthony Gravagne, Physics & Astronomy; Nominator: Wolfgang Rudolph

After the presentation of the awards, John Matthews, Professor of Physics & Astronomy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, presented the talk: ‘Extreme Universe from 1963 to 2017.

Initiation of New Sigma Xi Members

Congratulations to all the 2017 winners !!!