EECS alum Mihir Parikh gives generous scholarships Mihir and Nancy Parikh (top, first and second from right) are the donors of the Parikh Scholarships, which support undergraduate students pursuing studies in Engineering Science and demonstrating academic and leadership excellence. In fall 2004, Interdisciplinary Studies nominated and selected five undergraduate students to receive $5,000 each. These awardees are selected by a faculty committee from among the most talented students in the department. The 2004 winners are (from bottom, left) Mihir Tendulkar, Tuan Nguyen, (top, middle) Austin Minnich, Dennis Hsu, and Pascal Martin. Also pictured are Dean Richard Newton (top, far left) and Professor Dave Dornfeld (top, second from left).

Russian electrical engineering and computer science club grows to serve community

As an active participant in the 500-plus-member Berkeley Russian Club, EECS alum Egor Nikitin often wondered why so few Russian engineers like himself attended the club’s events. His EECS major had many Russians, but few things seemed to rouse them from Soda Hall. Nikitin, wanting to establish a tight knit community of Russian engineers, had an idea. If they wouldn’t come to him, he would bring the club to them.

In the Spring of 2003, Nikitin started the Russian Electrical Engineering Student Association (REESA), a group with a professional focus, that wouldn’t require students to leave Soda Hall.

“Engineering students, especially EECS students, may be socially shy, but they aren’t shy when it comes to padding their resumes,” he laughs.

Nikitin envisioned REESA as a big version of a study group where people work on small software projects and help each other with homework. But when the group took on a large-scale...[FULL STORY]

Get to know your ASUC senator: a profile of Peter Chung

MSE sophomore Peter Chung wants people to know that he does more than just study. In fact, this past spring he borrowed against his homework time in order to campaign 10 hours a day.

“My grades suffered but it was worth it. This is going to be an unforgettable college experience,” he says of his time in the student senate.

As ASUC senator, Chung says he wants to strengthen the EJC’s hand in supporting the Cal vehicle teams.

“Our vehicle teams help....[FULL STORY]

CEE alum chooses not just one, but two unusual careers for an engineer

CEE alum Richard Nye (B.S.'66) took the long route to becoming a veterinarian. First there was the engineering degree from UC Berkeley, then there was the professional baseball career.

Nye came to Berkeley on an academic scholarship, which became an athletic and academic scholarship after his freshman year. He enjoyed his engineering classes, especially the highway construction class, and he was driven to get good grades. He was a typical student, except for one thing. As a junior he was drafted by the Astros baseball team, in the first baseball draft ever held.

The bonus offered was modest and not enough of a motivation to sign a professional contract at that time. He chose to stay in school and play his last year at Cal. In 1966, after his senior year, he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs. After two months in the minor leagues, he moved up to the big leagues and finished that year pitching ... [FULL STORY]

Departments

• Pop Quiz: What is the best year of school?

• Events and Announcement

• Genius Corner

• Professor Minute

• Faculty Honor

To submit a seminar listing, please fill out the electronic form.

Win an award? Have an event coming up that you want publicized? E-mail news items and suggestions to the editor at Engineering News.

Send comments to editnews@coe.berkeley.edu   © 2003 UC Regents