1/15/04

AUBURN ENGINEERING PART OF VODAFONE-US FOUNDATION GRANT PROGRAM

AUBURN -- Auburn University is one of only three institutions sharing 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, AU's Samuel Ginn College of Engineering has received $3 million of the foundation's first multi-million dollar competitive grant program.

The grant for scholarships, fellowships and facilities is intended to enhance the pool of highly qualified students in AU's internationally acclaimed wireless engineering program.

The other universities selected by the foundation were the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

"The competition for this award was very tough," says AU 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 foundation's program, which funds the Auburn scholarships over a five-year period, provides 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.

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 other participating universities;
* Ability to leverage foundation's program with additional funds.

Auburn's College of Engineering began enrolling students in the wireless program in fall 2002 as AU 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. "We intend to use the grant to maintain and build on this momentum."

Selected after a rigorous application and interview process, 15 Auburn students were 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 2003-04 scholars include Mohamed Abdulmagid of Montgomery, Ala., Brian Holland of Dothan, Ala., Michael Newlin of Macon, Ga., and Victor Rundquist of Auburn, Ala., all seniors in electrical and computer engineering; Rachael Achorn of Madison, Ala., David Boyd of Hoover, Ala., and Ryan Northington of Hoover, Ala., all sophomores in computer science and software engineering; Jeremy Arnold of Shorterville, Ala., Kendra Cole of New Brockton, Ala., and Brian Ginn of Eden Prairie, Minn., all sophomores in electrical and computer engineering; and John Jansen of Thomasville, Ala., a junior in electrical and computer engineering.

The college's Vodafone-US Foundation 2003-2004 fellows include Yawen Dai Barowski of the People's Republic of China, a doctoral candidate in computer science and software engineering; Jun Pan of Dongtai and Xin Wang of Guangzhuo, doctoral candidates in electrical and computer engineering; and Ying Yang of Qing Hai, a master's degree candidate in computer science and software engineering

AU's wireless engineering program was further enhanced in December with the addition 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. "They bring with them international reputations within their fields."

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jan04:AU-vodafone