2018 Richard E. Merwin Scholarship Winners
April 2018 Winners
H
amna Akram
Bahria University
Computer Engineering
Hamna Akram’s goal of achieving her bachelor of science in computer engineering has brought her to Bahria University in Islamabad, Pakistan, where she also serves as IEEE Computer Society chapter chair. In her role, she has created seminars and organized an e-gaming tournament. Outside of her work with IEEE and the IEEE Computer Society, Akram volunteers to teach math, language and science at a school for underprivileged children.
In her role as student ambassador, she will work to create a larger community, and support networking and increased technical understanding.
Qhansa Bayu
Telkom University
Informatics Engineering
Qhansa Bayu is in pursuit of a bachelor of science in informatics engineering. She was the chair of the IEEE Computer Society student branch chapter at Telkom University. She was an Indonesian delegate at the IEEE Region 10 Student/YP/WIE Congress 2015. And she won the Beasiswa Kopertis Scholarship in 2016 from Telkom University. As a student ambassador, Bayu will connect volunteers and members more closely to increase activities.
Meghana Reddy Chinthala
Vaagdevi College of Engineering
Meghana Reddy Chinthala is studying for a bachelor of technology at the Vaagdevi College of Engineering. She is the secretary at her college’s student branch and outreach ambassador for the CS Compute newsletter. In her free time, Chinthala dances, and plays badminton and carom, a tabletop game in which players attempt to shoot disks into one of four corner pockets.
Chinthala’s vision for 2018 and 2019 is to make the Computer Society chapter on her campus active and sustainable. She wants to continue to conduct events on the campus, so student benefits increase over time.
Nagaraju Durshanapu
Vaagdevi College of Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Nagaraju Durshanapu, a bachelor of science student in mechanical engineering at Vaagdevi College of Engineering in India, has served as lead on the Scholarship Outreach Initiative conducted by the IEEE India Council Student Affairs Committee and the organizing team member of the IEEE All Hyderabad Computer Society Student Congress 2018.
Durshanapu took first place for his paper presentation at the national level technical fest. He was nominated as the best GO KART prototype designer in 2018. As a student ambassador, Durshanapu would like to broadcast technical sessions at conferences and create a “Computer Society Mentorship Programme” with the help of young professional members.
Soheila Ghane Ezabadi
University of Melbourne
Computer Science
Soheila Ghane Ezabadi is a PhD student in the computer science department at the University of Melbourne. She is the president of IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) and Secretary of the IEEE student branch at her university. Among her many awards, she received a research grant from Ludwig Maximilian University in 2017 and the Grace Hopper scholarship awarded for active women in technical fields, which provides recipients the opportunity to meet successful women at an event organized by the AnitaBorg institute in United States.
Ghane is a volunteer in the “Choose Math” mentoring program organized by AMSI, where she conducts workshops to engage girls and women in math. As a student ambassador, she will focus on improving local and global collaborations and enhancing the technical activities of the IEEE student branch in the University of Melbourne.
Daphne Jenson
Panimalar Institute of Technology
Electronics and Communication Engineering
Daphne Jenson studies at the Panimalar Institute of Technology in pursuit of a bachelor of science in electronics and communication engineering. She is the student branch chair of the IEEE Panimalar Institute of Technology, Chennai and a content writer for IEEE CS Compute, produced by the India Council. Jenson won first and second prizes in inter-departmental paper presentations for papers titled “Artificial Hand Using Embedded System” and “Smart Agriculture Using IoT.”
Jenson looks forward to her time as student ambassador, when she plans to host a section level congress to motivate student branches and to increase awareness about the golden opportunities and benefits provided by the IEEE Computer Society.
Rajit Karmakar
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
Computer Science and VLSI
Rajit Karmakar is a PhD student in computer science and VLSI at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. Among his many roles in the school’s student branch, Karmakar serves as chair and university partnership program liaison.
Karmakar has won several research and travel grants over the years. Among those are the international travel grant and research grant from Synopsys Inc. USA, and a research grant from the government of India. As a student ambassador, Karmakar plans to focus on increasing the visibility of the IEEE Computer Society through strategic alliances and effective communication with the large student community inside and outside the campus of IIT Kharagpur. He would also focus on engagement with the student communities in technological development toward the realization of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) by organizing workshops on those subjects.
Emerson Keenan
University of Melbourne
PhD in Electrical Engineering
Emerson Keenan is pursuing his PhD in electrical engineering at the University of Melbourne.
Last year he served as chair in the IEEE University of Melbourne student branch, and is currently the event assistant for the IEEE Victorian Section Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society.
He was awarded the Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship for 2017–2020, and received the Peter McPhee Student Award from the University of Melbourne in 2017. Keenan plans to act as a leading ambassador for the IEEE Computer Society and continue teaching students practical engineering skills and encouraging them to follow the IEEE motto “Advancing Technology for Humanity.”
Md Saidur Rahman Kohinoor
Daffodil International University
Computer Science and Engineering
Md Saidur Rahman Kohinoor is working toward his bachelor of science in engineering at Daffodil International University. He is the chair of the student branch and the editor of the IEEE Bangladesh Section’s newsletter. Kohinoor founded the IEEE Computer Society student branch chapter at his university.
He has won scholarships and awards from his university, the Ministry of Finance of the government of Bangladesh, the Samsung Research and Development Institute of Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Computer Council. In 2015 and 2016, he placed in the top 50 in the National Undergraduate Olympiad, a competition in which participants progress from regional to national competitions, and which, at the finals, brought together the top 200 undergraduate mathematical thinkers in the country. As a student ambassador, Kohinoor plans to arrange a Techno-Management Platform where students are benefited by technological innovation, professional development, social networking and developing the society.
Akshita Mahajan
Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women
Electronics and Communication
Akshita Mahajan is working toward her bachelor of technology in electronics and communication at the Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women. Among her roles in the IEEE, Mahajan has served as social media coordinator in the IEEE Delhi Section Student Network and the vice chair of the IEEE student branch at her school. Mahajan plans not only to use her extensive network to promote the IEEE Computer Society when she becomes student ambassador, but also to work for the empowerment of women.
Niharika Mittal
Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh
Electronics and Communication Engineering
Niharika Mittal is a student of Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, where she is pursuing a bachelor of technology in electronics and communication engineering with a minor in computer science engineering. She is the Chandigarh subsection coordinator of the IEEE Delhi Section and the vice chair of the women in engineering, IEEE Punjab Engineering College student branch. She took third in the “Maze Runner” competition organized by Chandigarh College Of Engineering and Technology during their Techfest 2016. As an outlet for her artistic side, Mittal has been a member of the art and photography club at Punjab Engineering College.
In her role as student ambassador, Mittal plans to initiate special interest groups in and across the Computer Society chapters in the region on topics, such as web development, cloud computing, machine learning, artificial intelligence, deep learning, robotics, nanotechnology, data structures, advanced algorithms, and cyber security & forensics.
Hassam Mughal
Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, South Korea
Information and Communication Engineering
Hassam Mughal is a student in the information and communication engineering department of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, South Korea who is pursuing a master of science. Some of the roles in IEEE and the IEEE Computer Society Mughal has played over the years are Treasurer of IEEE Computer Society Karachi Chapter and chair of the IEEE Computer Society student branch chapter Mehran UET, Jamshoro, Pakistan. He has received a number of awards including the MS Research Project-Based Scholarship at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, South Korea, Most Valuable Young Professional Award at IEEE PSYWC’16 and the Best Project Award at the Open Day Project Exhibition at Mehran UET, Jamshoro.
Mughal is looking forward to his role as student ambassador, hoping to collaborate in achieving sustainable development by providing technical information, community services, and personalized services to the region’s computing students, professionals, and researchers.
Jenifer Mercy Carolina P
Panimalar Institute of Technology
Electronics and Communication Engineering
Jenifer Mercy Carolina P is a bachelor of engineering student in the electronics and communication engineering department at the Panimalar Institute of Technology. She is the secretary of the IEEE student branch and the vice chair of the Computer Society student branch chapter at the school. She is also the content lead for the India Council Student Activities Committee.
She has successfully completed an internship on telecommunications at Rttc-bsnl, meenampakkam, Chennai. As student ambassador, Jenifer plans to keep the members updated with the activities happening in and around the region, and promoting digital magazines like CS Compute and Computing Edge.
Muhammad Saeed Ul Hassan Raza
COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad
Electrical Computer Engineering
Muhammad Saeed Ul Hassan Raza is working toward his bachelor of science in electrical computer engineering. He is the chair of the IEEE student branch at COMSATS Institute of Technology in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
In 2018, Muhammad Saeed received the Best Young Engineer Award at the 16th Young Leaders Summit, hosted by Positive Pakistan. He also received the Upsilon Pi Epsilon award in 2016. In 2017, he participated in the AIESEC foreign exchange as a part of the Quality Education Project SDG, where he visited AIESEC in University of Nottingham Malaysia. As a student ambassador, Raza will encourage students to create chapters by visiting non-IEEE or new universities to spread information about IEEE and the IEEE Computer Society.
Swapnil Sayan Saha
University of Dhaka
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Swapnil Sayan Saha is in his fourth year of a bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronics engineering. He is the social media coordinator for the IEEE Bangladesh Section Humanitarian Activities Committee, vice chair of the IEEE student branch at the University of Dhaka, and the chief technology officer, digital marketing manager and co-founder at Orion Avionics and Electronics. Saha also has a musical side—playing guitar, bass, and drums, writing lyrics, and composing.
As a student ambassador, he plans to conduct awareness sessions, arrange technical competitions, host “meet the expert” sessions, create hands-on workshops, publish a bi-monthly e-magazine, and conduct a “get together” that will include non-technical, cultural and ice-breaking sessions.
Atif Abdus Samad
Jamia Hamdard University
Computer Science and Engineering
Atif Abdus Samad is a bachelor of science student in computer science engineering. He is the chair of the student branch at his university and is the IEEE WIE Affinity Group organizer. He was a core team member of the TEDX Jamia Hamdard in 2017 where he developed an android application for the event as a medium to share information about the event with the general community.
As a student ambassador, Abdus Samad plans to take the concept of special interest groups to remote areas to educate interested young minds about computer applications and provide them with mentors from among computer science and engineering students.
Ankur Sarode
Vellore Institute of Technology
Computer Science
Ankur Sarode is studying for his bachelor of science at Vellore Institute of Technology in India. He is the chair of the VIT Vellore student branch chapter. He organized the ARCS ’18, a technical conference with the aim of improving the technical knowledge of young enthusiastic minds. Ankur won the JIVOX Hackathon and the Mozilla Web Development Hackathon, and was a member of the website team for RoverX 2017 and 2018.
As an IEEE Computer Society student ambassador, Sarode plans to convince students to take advantage of IEEE’s benefits and networks.
Srishti
Ghandhi Institute of Engineering and Technology
Computer Science and Engineering
Srishti is pursuing her bachelor of technology in computer science and engineering at the Ghandi Institute of Engineering and Technology. Among her many roles, she has been coordinator for the Technology Awareness Programme (TAP) in Kolkata, the coordinator for Technergize: Innovate, Collaborate, Build (an IEEE CS India SAC initiative) and one of the three event coordinators of IEEE Computer Society India Symposium 2018. Srishti also loves debating, writing and dancing.
As student ambassador, Srishti will work to ensure continued knowledge transfer through conferences and workshops, as well as through a connection between industry and academia, and young professionals and students.
September 2018 Winners
Ninety students applied for the Richard E. Merwin Student Scholarship during the fall 2018 cycle. The winners receive a $1000 scholarship and become ambassadors in their region. To apply, IEEE Computer Society student members provided substantial information on their IEEE involvement, awards they have received, non-IEEE activities, and their vision for their time as ambassador. Below is just a sampling of the Merwin Student Scholars’ qualifications.
Akhil Aduvala
Vaagdevi College Of Engineering
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Akhil Aduvala is studying in an undergraduate program for a degree in electrical and electronic engineering. He is the vice chair of the Computer Society student branch chapter at Vaagdevi College of Engineering. He is also a publicity team member for World Blockchain Hackathon 2018. In 2017 and 2018, Aduvala won best project of the academic year at the department level. Beyond his work with IEEE, he is technical coordinator and a founding member of Vaagdevi Electrical Students Association. In 2017, Aduvala won the state level speech competition conducted by Election Commission of India on the occasion of National Voters Day.
Garima Badhan
Northern India Engineering College
Computer Science Engineering
Garima Badhan is an undergraduate student working toward a degree in computer science engineering. She is the chair of the Northern India Engineering College student branch and Women in Engineering affinity group. Badhan won first prize in the Women in Engineering Stand Project Presentation, organized by Delhi section for the project “Sign Language Detection Using Hybrid Machine Learning Model.” She was also selected for the Outstanding Student Volunteer Award 2018 for her contribution to IEEE and its activities, given by the student activities committee of the IEEE Delhi Section.
Badhan is a member of the Rotaract Club of Delhi Janak, and a volunteer at Awaaz—The Cultural Society of Northern India Engineering College.
Niharika Bolledla
Vaagdevi College of Engineering
Electronics and Communication Engineering
Niharika Bolledla is working toward her Bachelor of Technology degree in electronics and communication engineering at Vaagdevi College of Engineering. Bolledla is the secretary of the Vaagdevi College of Engineering student branch chapter and chair of her university’s Women In Engineering affinity group. In 2018, she earned a scholarship to attend the Grace Hopper Celebrations India, which is awarded to female students based on academic performance, and demonstrated leadership ability in technology and their community. Bolledla serves her community by volunteering at the Innovative Media Organization (IMO) in which, among other activities, she educated students in rural areas.
Savneet Kaur Chhatwal
GH Raisoni College of Engineering
Computer Science and Engineering
Savneet Kaur Chhatwal is an undergraduate studying computer science and engineering at GH Raisoni College of Engineering. She is the chair of the Computer Society student branch chapter at her university. She has volunteered for humanitarian initiatives at an animal shelter, which was organized by Nagpur subsection and has conducted a Unity 3D workshop and 3 other events. Chhatwal was the winner of the Smart India Hackathon, organized by the Government of India. She has been very involved in the life of her university, managing and coordinating events at the college level. She has also made an impact on her community through volunteering with Nagpur Mahila Club, an NGO working with women and children.
Waqas Ahmad Chaudhary
COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Wah Campus
Computer Science
Waqas Ahmad Chaudhary is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science at COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Wah Campus. He is one of the founding members of the Computer Society student branch chapter at his university and is currently the chapter secretary. Chaudhary has also played a role in his chapter by organizing numerous events at his university. Chaudhary has distinguished himself from his fellow students through his academic achievements, most recently placing first among more than 200 students in academic achievement. He has also won first place in the Glider Module at PION’17, organized by IEEE PIEAS student branch, and second place in the quiz competition at COMTECH’18.
Ahmed Douik
California Institute of Technology
Electrical Engineering
Ahmed Douik is working toward his PhD in electrical engineering at California Institute of Technology. Douik was attracted to volunteering through an effort to create a young professionals affinity group at his university. In the past few years, he has served as secretary of the IEEE Young Professionals Metro Los Angeles section affinity group and treasurer of the IEEE Computer Society Metropolitan Los Angeles section chapter. Douik has received several awards and fellowships from IEEE and his universities, including the IEEE Region 6 Outstanding IEEE Young Professional Award, Publons Peer Review Award, Caltech Fellowship (2015-2016) and the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Fellowship. Ahmed has also worked as a research assistant and a teaching assistant at his various universities.
Kirtiraj Rajendraprasad Garud
Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani
Big Data Engineering
Kirtiraj Rajendraprasad Garud is a master’s student in Big Data Engineering at the Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani. His volunteer experience is too vast to list in the space available, but it includes his role as lead networking coordinator for the IEEE India Council student activities committee in 2017, the chair of the IEEE Student Branch G H Raisoni College of Engineering (GHRCE), Nagpur student branch in 2016 – 2017. Just as Garud’s volunteering experience is immense and varied, so are his awards. Among them are winner of the Gold Memento for Startup “Rainbow Dimensions” during the entrepreneurship summit Ignite 2015 held at GHRCE and the winner of the IIT Delhi Autonomous Robotics Championship Phase-1 under Technogyanam IIT Delhi (and selected for Phase 2 to be mentored at IIT Delhi). Garud is also a six-time medalist in the Indian Medical Association’s Doctors Day Celebration.
Sudipta Ghosh
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
Computer Science and Embedded Electronics
Sudipta Ghosh is a PhD student who studies computer science and embedded electronics at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. Ghosh currently serves at his university’s student branch chair and previously held the position of vice-chair of the IEEE Embedded Systems student club. Ghosh has received many fellowships and awards, including a fellowship from the Ministry of Human Resource Development of the Government of India for pursuing his doctorate. In 2016, he received partial travel grant from the IEEE Student Branch to present his research paper at 2016 IEEE Region 10 Conference (TENCON) in Singapore and full funding from IIT Kharagpur to present at the 40th Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference (EMBC 2018) in Hawaii.
S. Varun Kumar
St. Joseph’s College of Engineering
Instrumentation and Control
S. Varun Kumar is a undergraduate student, studying instrumentation and control at St. Joseph’s College of Engineering. He is the chair of the Computer Society student branch chapter at his university. He previously served as treasurer and event organizer. Kumar is the recipient of International Society of Automation Educational Foundation Scholarship Award 2018. He won the National Level Open Challenge Competition “Solution to Problem” – DEFEXPO and “The Alexa and Arduino Smart Home Challenge,” conducted by Hackster.io. He won the “Young Scientist Award” for his project presentation at the National Level Design Contest in India. He is the International Society of Automation (ISA) president at his university. Kumar is also an assistant swimming coach and a volunteer at the Rotary Club of Madras.
Abdul Halik M I
Jeppiaar Institute of Technology (JIT)
Mechanical Engineering
Abdul Halik M I is studying at Jeppiaar Institute of Technology for a Bachelor of Technology in mechanical engineering. He is a student mentor and was previously chair at the IEEE JIT student branch. He headed the editorial team for a student branch magazine at the university, which has published four issues with articles on emerging technologies and was written by students. Abdul Halik M I won first place for a paper presentation on “Humanoid Robotics” and in a poster presentation on “Agrona.”
Abdul Halik M I was involved in humanitarian efforts through his organizing a seven-day “Role of Youth in Society” camp and competitive activities through his participation in the Indian Karting Competition, an intercollegiate engineering design competition in which the student-teams design, engineer, build, test, promote and compete with a vehicle.
Amanda Merkley
Colorado State University
Computer Engineering and Mathematics
Amanda Merkley is studying for a bachelor of science in computer engineering and mathematics at Colorado State University. She is currently the chair of the student branch at the university, having served previously as event coordinator and webmaster. Merkley has received numerous scholarships and awards including the Micromotion Engineering Scholarship, Eta Kappa Nu membership at Colorado State University and A-Pin Award at Utah State University. Outside of her work with IEEE, she has been an undergraduate researcher in high performance computing and metabolic engineering, and treasurer of Women in Engineering at Utah State University, among others.
Muhammad Ammar Qureshi
COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Wah Campus
Computer Science
Muhammad Ammar Qureshi is a Bachelor of Science student at COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Wah Campus, studying computer science. Qureshi has participated in IEEE activities both on the student branch and chapter level. He is the chair of the Computer Society COMSATS Wah chapter. In the student branch, he has served as the head of the design team and the head of the web development team. For the Islamabad section, Qureshi has volunteered as the student activities committee web director. Qureshi’s activities are not limited to IEEE initiatives, but rather extend to projects like the Wall of Kindness and the Tree Plantation Drive. He has also offered his time to teach students in grades 5 to 7.
Govind R
College of Engineering Attingal
Computer Science Engineering
Govind R is working toward a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science Engineering at the College of Engineering Attingal. He is the chair of the IEEE Computer Society student branch chapter and of the IEEE student branch at his university. He has received awards for being an outstanding student, and has won first place in the Mini CNC Plotter Machine using Arduino at the Intercollege Technical Fest 2017 and Linea 3.0—Line Follower competition conducted by College of Engineering Attingal. Outside his work with IEEE, he has participated in a number of electronics competitions and has volunteered in a 3-day cleaning and electrical maintenance camp in flood-affected areas in Chengannur, Kerala, India.
Ganesh Reddy Ram Reddy
VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering & Technology
Electronics of Communication and Engineering
Ganesh Reddy Ram Reddy is working toward a Bachelor of Engineering and Technology in electronics of communication and engineering. Ram Reddy is currently the web designer for the IEEE VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology student branch, and recently served as its chair. He took first place for his paper presentation at the national technical event Convergence 2018. In 2017, Ram Reddy received an internship at BSNL Regional Telecom Training Centre in Gachibowli, Hyderabad. In addition to his work with IEEE, Ram Reddy has many interests, including table tennis in which he won runner up in the third state ranking table tennis competition at AAR Mahveer College of Engineering. Ram Reddy has also built a prototype for a robot that includes cleaning, monitoring and security features.
Aarya R Shankar
College of Engineering Trivandrum (CET)
Computer Science and Engineering
Aarya R Shankar is an undergraduate student who is pursuing a degree in computer science and engineering. She has volunteered for many events in her area. She is also the chair of the IEEE Computer Society CET chapter and a content writer for IEEE CS Compute. Shankar has many awards and scholarships to her name. In 2018, she won the Google Women TechMakers Scholarship. She won coding contests, including Codiva, Crack the Code at CultAWay and PreXtreme at the IEEE All Kerala Computer Society Student Congress. In both 2017 and 2018, Shankar was ranked in the 30s in the Indian Engineering Olympiad. In addition to her work with IEEE, Shankar has supported several clubs including Cell CET, Foss CET and Robotics CET. She has also volunteered for NASA Space Apps Challenge.
Jaya Shree V
Panimalar Institute of Technology
Electronics and Communication Engineering
Jaya Shree V is an undergraduate student, pursuing a degree in electronics and communication engineering at Panimalar Institute of Technology. She is currently the Women in Engineering (WIE) chair for the Panimalar Institute of Technology, Chennai. Jaya Shree V was previously the chair of the Communication Society student branch chapter at her university. She has been very active in her community, conducting a technical awareness program for schoolchildren at Dhasar Government Higher Secondary School in Thiruvallur, Chennai, and a social and educational awareness program among middle-school students in Ramalinga Adigalar Gurukula, Thoraipakkam, Chennai. Jaya Shree V’s awards include runner up in the technical quiz competition and the C Programming Contest, conducted by the IEEE student branch at the Panimalar Institute of Technology. She has also presented a paper on Smart Agriculture Using IOT in the PECTEAM2K18 international conference held at Panimalar Engineering College.
Staji Wilson
College of Engineering Chengannur
Electronics and Communication Engineering
Staji Wilson is working toward a Bachelor’s degree in electronics and communication engineering at the College of Engineering Chengannur. She was a member of IEEE Kochi Hub Tech Team, an IEEE Kerala section initiative to foster young technical minds in Kerala. Wilson was a core team member of Robothon 3.0 and a member of Devcom. Wilson volunteered at the IEEE Computer Society India Symposium 2018, and at the IEEE Awards Program. She worked as a core committee member for Magnum 2018, the Biennial Technical Fest of College of Engineering Chengannur.
These students are now part of the select group of Richard E. Merwin Scholarship recipients. You too can join them. There will be two opportunities in 2019 for you to be one of 36 recipients in 2019. If you are eligible, plan to apply by the 30 April or the 30 September deadline at www.computer.org/web/students/merwin.
