K-State electrical engineering student honored with national student award

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Source: David Soldan, 785-532-5534, soldan@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Adam Holste, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu

Friday, March 23, 2007

K-STATE ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING STUDENT HONORED WITH NATIONAL STUDENT AWARD

MANHATTAN -- Renee Ecklund, a Kansas State University graduate student in electrical engineering, has been named an honorable mention for the Outstanding Electrical and Computer Engineering Student Award from Eta Kappa Nu, an electrical and computer engineering honor society.

Ecklund, Fort Meade, Md., was recognized at the annual Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Heads Association meeting March 19 in St. Augustine, Fla. She received a $1,000 award honorarium and an engraved plaque.

The award provides recognition for deserving electrical and computer engineering students who show high moral character and demonstrate exemplary service to those around them.

"I really appreciated Renee's attitude and ability to organize activities and get volunteers during her term as president of the Kansas State chapter of Eta Kappa Nu," said David Soldan, K-State professor of electrical and computer engineering. "This recognition of her outstanding achievements is a great honor for her and for the electrical and computer engineering department. There are well over 200 chapters of Eta Kappa Nu that can nominate students for this award."

Ecklund, formerly of Herington, graduated from K-State in May 2006 with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and a minor in leadership studies. She now works for the National Security Agency at Fort Meade, while also working on her master's in electrical engineering from K-State.

While at K-State, Ecklund was on the honors list, worked with the Women Mentoring Women program and was in the Engineering Honors Program. A member of the K-State women's varsity crew rowing team, she was named to the Big 12 Honor Roll.

Ecklund was the recipient of a Homeland Security Scholars and Fellows Program award from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in 2003. The award included money for schooling and also provided internship opportunities; Ecklund interned with the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory in summer 2004.

She also was a summer intern in 2002 and 2003 at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., reviewing and researching air and missile defense. In addition, Ecklund spent summer 2005 at Fort Meade working for the National Security Agency.