Each June brings memories of graduation. I remember the day I walked across the stage to accept my high school diploma – how full of promise the future seemed. I also remember listening to our valedictorian and salutatorian speeches and realizing that these folks really had a bright future.
Indeed, one of those speakers, Jim Tassie, is a successful lawyer who is raising an equally bright daughter. His daughter attends Columbus School for Girls in Columbus, Ohio. I blogged about this school's efforts to encourage engineering as a career.
Well it seems that other schools around the nation are promoting engineering as well – specifically the significant role engineers can play in promoting environmental sustainability.
Honeywell announced that two Houston high school seniors from one of the city’s engineering magnet schools have been awarded the Honeywell Engineer of the Future Scholarship. Christopher Foster and Nicholas Robbins, who each attend the High School for Engineering Professions (HSEP), were recognized for their ideas for reducing pollution at industrial manufacturing plants.
“Christopher and Nicholas exemplify that with innovative thinking, leadership, and hard work, engineering can make a positive difference in creating a sustainable world,” says Norm Gilsdorf, president, Honeywell Process Solutions. “We were impressed by the high-level of thought, creativity, and analysis in their recommendations. Engineers are critical to our planet’s future, and we are glad to support their continuing education as well as raise awareness of the important contributions they make.”
Foster and Robbins each wrote 500-word essays describing their recommendations to reduce carbon emissions produced by industrial facilities. Foster received the top prize of $2,500 for recommending ways to capture and commercialize carbon emissions and transitioning to wireless technologies. Robbins was awarded a runner-up prize of $500 for discussing how to re-engineer industrial plant components to work together as a more-efficient system. Foster will attend Texas A&M University in the fall to study petrochemical engineering, while Robbins will study mechanical engineering at Rice University.
Kudos to both students for their contributions toward sustainability. And here's to their bright careers ahead – may they be fodder for future blogs.
Traci Purdum
Senior Digital Editor
