May 07, 2010

10 named honor society chapter charter members

by Tim Crosby

CARBONDALE, Ill -- Southern Illinois University Carbondale is now home to an honor society focused on computer and electrical engineering.

The national organization Eta Kappa Nu (HKN) recently installed a chapter at SIUC. The honor society will have 10 charter student members at the University, organizers said, and will especially benefit the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the College of Engineering.

“This new chapter will provide special opportunities for close faculty/student interactions and relationships,” said Wei Zhang, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and the new organization’s faculty adviser. “It will provide opportunities for students to work together with other students and within their own governance structure, helping build needed skills for life that are not necessarily taught in a formal class environment.

“HKN will provide many opportunities to put some of the knowledge and skills that they have acquired in the classroom into various projects and goals that are not just assignments to be turned in for a grade,” Zhang said.

Ramanarayanan Viswanathan, dean of the College of Engineering, said he was glad to have an HKN chapter at SIUC.

“This gave us the opportunity to recognize and honor 10 wonderful and accomplished students in electrical and computer engineering programs,” he said. “The college and the University wholeheartedly welcome its operation.”

Eta Kappa Nu honors and recognizes excellence among individuals who work in the electrical and computer engineering fields. The organization, which is more than 100 years old, traces its roots to the University of Illinois, where students saw a need for an honor society focused on this emerging technology. The 10 founding members of the society at SIUC are:

• Leo Saruwatari, a senior in computer engineering from Bloomington

•Joseph Pastrovich, a senior in electrical engineering from Carterville

• Justin Gumbel a junior in electrical engineering from Champaign

• Eric Blankenship, a senior in electrical engineering from Carterville

• Shawn Gossett, a senior in electrical engineering from West Frankfort

• Adam Watkins, a senior in computer engineering from Mason City

• Anne Marie Goldman, a junior in electrical engineering from Lake Forest

• Brian Gurley, a junior in electrical engineering from Galatia

• Mallory McGuire, a senior in electrical engineering from Pittsburg

•Mike Howe, a senior in computer engineering from West Chicago

Zhang also credited department chair Glafkos Galanos, Viswanathan and honor committee members Professor Frances Harackiewicz, Assistant Professor Harini Ramaprasad and Assistant Professor Shaikh Ahmed, all of the electrical and computer engineering department, with helping bring the organization to SIUC.

“They all worked very hard with me to make this happen,” he said.