May 9, 2002

Contact: Jill Hummels, School of Engineering, (785) 864-2934.

KU engineering student wins society's national honor

LAWRENCE -- An engineering student at the University of Kansas was selected to receive the 2002 Outstanding Electrical Engineering Student Award from Eta Kappa Nu, the national honor society for electrical and computer engineering.

Shadab Mozaffar, a senior in electrical engineering from Patna, India, in September will travel to Los Angeles to receive the national award. The award recognizes education excellence and the best balance of scholarship, service, activity, leadership and character. Mozaffar was chosen from among nominations submitted by Eta Kappa Nu chapters across the United States.

Mozaffar has done well academically at KU, having earned a 3.9 grade-point average. He has been awarded several scholarships including engineering merit scholarships and the International Student Services scholarship. At commencement on May 19, he will graduate with highest distinction. He currently works as an undergraduate research assistant for Professor David Petr through KU's Information and Telecommunication Technology Center.

Mozaffar also has been involved in a number of activities on campus. He is treasurer of the KU Cultural India Club. During the 2000-2001 school year he served as president of the KU student chapter of Eta Kappa Nu, and from 1999 to 2001 he was a tutor in KU's Academic Programs for Excellence, which helps KU students with learning disabilities.

Mozaffar said he was pleasantly surprised to be granted the honor.

"I owe it all to the faculty here. They are great, especially Dr. David Petr, who gave me the opportunity to work under him as an undergraduate research assistant and got me interested in research," Mozaffar said. "Even though I have handled my everyday responsibilities by creating a careful balance between studies and extracurricular activities, my most important source of inspiration has been my parents, without whose prayers and support none of this would be possible."

In August, Mozaffar will begin work on a master's degree in electrical engineering at KU. He will be a research assistant for Associate Professor Chris Allen in the Lightwave Laboratory at ITTC. Mozaffar's ultimate goal is to become a professor.

As winner of the Eta Kappa Nu outstanding student award, Mozaffar will receive a plaque and a cash award.