Graduate engineering students showed a depth and diversity of scientific study in papers they submitted for an annual competition sponsored by Science Applications International Corporate (SAIC) at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Now in its 21st year, the contest provides SAIC and the university with the opportunity to strengthen ties and advance research in critical fields. “The student paper competition is a wonderful example of the collaborative relationship between SAIC and Georgia Tech that has been built by many people over the years,” said Bev Seay, an SAIC business unit general manager and SAIC’s corporate executive for the program. “It gives participants exposure to the innovative work and talented people at SAIC, demonstrates the company’s commitment to furthering important scientific research, and illustrates our dedication to supporting education and developing the future workforce.”
Out of the 60 papers submitted in competition, 12 received awards. SAIC funded six first-place awards at $1,000 each and six second-place awards at $500 each. The winning students and their faculty advisors each received plaques honoring their achievements at a special awards banquet hosted by SAIC.
“It was a privilege to address such a dynamic and brilliant group of young scientists,” said Alderson, the keynote speaker at the event. “I truly believe that recognizing and honoring their talent underscored the importance of their contributions and will help set them on a path of excellence that will not only benefit the scientific community, but them personally as well.”
For its efforts, SAIC was invited to be a member of Georgia Tech’s Hill Society, which honors contributors whose donations exceed $1 million. “We’re very proud to be a member of such a prestigious philanthropic association,” said Riecken.
Seay added, “We look forward to continued successes through this relationship. It’s an exceptional example of how an industry-academic partnership benefits students, the community, our employees, and, most importantly, our customers, by pushing the research envelope across a range of scientific fields.”
