2009-Jun-17 | Recently, Siemens executives went "back to school" for a day to recognize the 2008 grand prize winners of the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology. Dave Pacyna, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Siemens Energy Inc. honored the team of Sajith Wickramasekara and Andrew Guo at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham, NC, while Mendi Paschal, Director, Global Public Relations at Siemens PLM, awarded individual winner Wen Chyan, a senior at the Texas Academy of Mathematics & Science in Denton, Texas. Both schools received a replica of the winning $100,000 award check to display in their trophy cases.
"Having lived in North Carolina for the past seven years and having several friends with children who attend NCSMS, it was especially gratifying for me to have the chance to appear before the entire student body and faculty to honor the outstanding achievements of Saji and Andrew,” said Mr. Pacyna, a member of the Siemens Foundation Board of Directors. “You cannot help but be energized by the enthusiasm and level of excellence being maintained at NCSMS (three Siemens Competition national award winners since 2000!). We have to find ways to grow this kind of quality learning experience throughout our country," he added.
Ms. Paschal added, "I was honored to be amongst such bright, hard-working students and to present this award on behalf of the Siemens Foundation. I felt inspired by these students and their drive to make a difference in many areas, but especially in the science and medical fields. Being there also filled me with hope for our world’s future because of the developments and discoveries these students are sure to make," she said. Ms. Paschal manages public relations globally for Siemens PLM Software and is based in Plano, Texas. "It was truly an honor to represent the Siemens Foundation at such a wonderful, soul-stirring event," she added.
In December 2008, the team of Saji and Andrew earned the Siemens Competition grand prize for their genetics research, which has the potential to easily identify new chemotherapeutic drugs and greatly improve existing ones. Saji and Andrew recently presented their research as entrepreneurs and landed summer jobs with Joseph DeSimone, winner of the $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize – a prestigious award that recognizes individuals who translate their ideas into inventions and innovations that improve the world in which we live.
Wen Chyan earned the gold medal for his bioengineering research of antimicrobial coatings for medical devices. He is currently filing a patent for his work with University of North Texas. Recently, the House of Representatives in Texas recognized Wen for his outstanding accomplishments. UNT named Wen one of four 2009 Barry M. Goldwater Scholars.
The Siemens Competition is a signature program of the Siemens Foundation that recognizes the original research of America's best and brightest math and science students. Nearly 1,900 students throughout the nation entered the Siemens Competition last year, and just 18 finalists were chosen to present their projects in New York City.
The scholars caught the attention of the media, the scientific community—and the nation. Feature stories have appeared on the Science Channel, National Public Radio, the Associated Press, ABC News, Scientific American, and The New York Times. In February, the three young men rang the closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange and participated in a Siemens Science Day with elementary kids in the Bronx.
