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CEE graduate named University Medal finalist
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CEE major Siu-Ting Mak, one of five finalists for Berkeley’s University Medal, was among the record 1,144 engineering students graduating last May.
PEG SKORPINSKI PHOTO
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CEE major Siu-Ting Mak—a tall, modest, Chinese-born pianist who was the first in his family to attend college—was one of five finalists for this year’s University Medal, UC Berkeley’s highest honor given to one graduating senior each year.
This fall Mak will continue his studies, pursuing his master’s and possibly Ph.D. in CEE’s Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Materials Program. Inspired by a junior year research assignment on self-anchored suspension bridges, he has a particular passion for public works like bridges, roads, water treatment plants and air pollution control systems that unobtrusively keep the world’s infrastructure humming smoothly.
“I want to affect people’s lives, not in fancy ways,” Mak says, “but in implicit ways, something that people might not even notice. But if they do, they would appreciate its benefits.”
During his four years at Berkeley, Mak also performed with Cal Community Music, entertaining seniors at East Bay convalescent homes and retirement centers. An accomplished pianist, he started studying music at age five and now has a penchant for chamber music and contemporary compositions.
He credits his parents, who live in Hong Kong, with giving him a desire to learn and his mother with suggesting that her high-achieving son apply to U.S. colleges. Now, he says, he considers his choice of Berkeley the best decision he ever made. And he appears to have started a family trend of coming to California; his sister is now studying business at San Francisco State University.
Mak was one of 1,144 undergraduate and graduate students, a record high, to receive their degrees at commencement ceremonies last May 20 in the Greek Theater. Paul Jacobs (B.S.'84, M.S.'86, Ph.D.'89 EECS), CEO of San Diego-based wireless telecommunications company QUALCOMM, gave the commencement address.
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