Ohio University junior Eileen Saenz, an electrical engineering student in the Russ College of Engineering and Technology, has been awarded the national 2002 Woman of Color Government and Defense Technology Award for Student Leadership. The award will be presented to her in July at the Women of Color Government and Technology Conference in Washington, D.C.
Saenz was nominated for the award by Felix Miranda, supervisory electronics engineer at the NASA Glenn Research Center where Saenz worked as an intern during the summer of 2000. While working at the center, Saenz designed a filter for a satellite and helped in its fabrication and testing. As a result of her work, she was the principle author on a report published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers journal, "IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity."
"I can think of no more qualified candidate for the award. Her cooperative education experience at NASA Glenn Research Center was one of the most successful I have witnessed since becoming cooperative education advisor five years ago," said Dennis Irwin, chair of Ohio University's School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
Saenz is secretary of the Russ College Student Ambassadors program and will serve as vice president of the organization next academic year. She also is the treasurer of the Ohio University student chapter of IEEE and is a member of Eta Kappa Nu, the national electronic engineering professional honor society. Saenz is a founding member and vice president of the University's chapter of Alpha Psi Lambda, a Hispanic social fraternity.
Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine graduate Norma Perez graduated from OU-COM June 1 and was recognized at the commencement ceremony as the 2001-2002 Student D.O. of the Year.
"I could not think of anyone better suited to be a doctor. I nominated Norma because of her academic excellence, ability to relate to people and her caring bedside manner. She was an exceptional student and a tremendous role model for medical students," said OU-COM Dean Jack Brose.
"I was truly honored to be nominated and further, to be chosen as Student D.O. of the Year. It is possible to achieve your dream. The important thing is to never give up," Perez said.
Born in 1972 in Mexico, Perez and her family immigrated to Los Angeles when Perez was two years old. She grew up in a Mexican barrio close to downtown Los Angeles and attended public schools throughout her education. Perez graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1995 with a premed degree in human biodynamics, a major that combines biology and exercise physiology.
"I was highly influenced to do medicine after serving as my mother's translator whenever she had to go to the doctor. All I could remember was her sense of frustration after each visit, because she was not being heard and not receiving the best attention possible. The desire to become a physician and serve my Spanish speaking community grew and became my mission as I continued my education," Perez said.
When asked why she chose osteopathic medicine, Perez said that it simply made sense. "Treating the patient instead of treating the symptom made sense, and I did not see any other way of approaching or practicing medicine."
