The award recognizes service during the 2011-12 year to fellow students, as well as to the school, university and surrounding community. HKN is dedicated to encouraging and recognizing excellence in electrical and computer engineering.

Eta Kappa Nu was founded in October 1904 by Maurice L. Carr at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. HKN was originally established for electrical engineering students but expanded to include computer engineering in 2000. In 2008, HKN became an organizational unit of the IEEE. Membership in the local chapter is offered to the top 25% of juniors and 33% of seniors at each college. Tech’s chapter, Beta Mu, is among an elite group of just five chapters that have received the Outstanding Chapter Award eight years in a row.

The Georgia Tech chapter is led by Alex DeFreese and Jessica Shaffer, and its adviser is Dr. Tom Gaylord, a professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. 

HKN is one of the largest honor societies in the country, with nearly 200 university chapters, a variety of committees, many active member volunteers, and thousands of student members. Members include students, alumni, and other professionals who have demonstrated exceptional academic and professional accomplishments.