November 2007 News

Monday, November 26, 2007

School District Grad Receives Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers

On November 1, 2007, 58 scientists and engineers—including a graduate of the Santa Barbara High School District—were honored at the White House when they received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) Award. The PECASE Award, established in 1996 by the National Science and Technology Council, recognizes scientists and engineers who, early in their research careers, show exceptional potential for leadership at the frontiers of scientific knowledge during the twenty-first century.

Dr. Shawn Newsam, assistant professor in the School of Engineering at University of California, Merced, graduated from Santa Barbara Junior High School and Santa Barbara High School. He received the PECASE award for his outstanding research in image processing, pattern recognition, and data mining, and for his leading role in educating young scientists and engineers by developing a new and innovative academic program in computer science and engineering. As a PECASE award recipient, Dr. Newsam’s work will benefit from a U.S. Department of Energy commitment of $50,000 per year for the next five years.

According to a quote published yesterday in the Santa Barbara News-Press, “The math and science teachers that I had during my years at the junior high and high school were really supportive and helped me in my pursuit to achieve what I have today.”