Vodafone - US Foundation Launches Grant Program
Auburn University is one of only three institutions to share in an unprecedented $12 million grant from the Vodafone-US Foundation as part of an effort to advance education in wireless engineering technology.
In recognition of its quality programs in wireless engineering, the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering received $3 million of the foundation's first multi-million dollar competitive grant program. In support of scholarships, fellowships and facilities, the grant is intended to enhance the pool of highly qualified students in Auburn University's internationally acclaimed wireless engineering program.
The foundation's program--which funds the Auburn scholarships over a five-year period--provides both tuition and full support for undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships in wireless engineering.
"It is a unique scholarship program that we've developed," says June Sugiyama, Vodafone-US Foundation director. "It not only helps students and universities but it also represents an important opportunity for us to enhance the advancement of wireless technology."
The grant also supports curriculum and research development in wireless engineering and provides for a pool of funds for interscholastic seminars, webcasts and symposiums.
The other universities selected by the foundation are the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. After an extensive study of the top U.S. engineering schools, the foundation's selection of universities was based on:
- Strong undergraduate and degree programs in wireless engineering
- Outstanding research facilities
- Capability to develop advanced wireless engineering labs
- Motivation to collaborate with the other participating universities
- Ability to leverage the foundation's program with additional funds
"The competition for this award was very tough," says Engineering Dean Larry Benefield. "It included 14 of the nation's top 25 engineering schools. To be one of the three programs selected is testament to the strength of our wireless efforts."
The College of Engineering began enrolling students in the wireless program in fall 2002 as Auburn became first in the nation to offer a bachelor's degree in wireless engineering.
"The response has been strong," says Richard Jaeger, distinguished university professor in electrical and computer engineering and interim director of Auburn's Wireless Engineering Research and Education Center (WEREC). "We intend to use the grant to maintain and build on this momentum."
Selected after a rigorous application and interview process, 15 Auburn students have been named recipients of Vodafone-US Foundation grants. Vodafone scholars are involved in areas that address society's most critical needs through wireless technologies, including energy, transportation, health care, environment, disaster response, homeland security, and education. Research is also being aimed at ways to help third world countries implement wireless solutions to their communication infrastructure needs.
The Auburn Engineering Vodafone-US Foundation 2003-2004 scholars include Mohamed Abdulmagid, Brian Holland, Michael Newlin, and Victor Rundquist, seniors in electrical and computer engineering; Rachael Achorn, David Boyd, and Ryan Northington, sophomores in computer science and software engineering; Jeremy Arnold, Kendra Cole, and Brian Ginn, sophomores in electrical and computer engineering; and John Jansen, a junior in electrical and computer engineering.
The college's Vodafone-US Foundation 2003-2004 fellows include Yawen Dai Barowski, a doctoral candidate in computer science and software engineering; Jun Pan and Xin Wang, doctoral candidates in electrical and computer engineering; and Ying Yang, a master's degree candidate in computer science and software engineering.
Auburn University's wireless engineering program has been further enhanced with the December additions of two new professors, Prathima Agrawal and Vishwani Agrawal, both of whom are recognized as world-class academicians.
"Prathima is assuming leadership of WEREC while Vishwani will teach and conduct research in a number of areas as a professor in Auburn's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering," Benefield said of the faculty positions. "They bring with them international reputations within their fields."
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