Contact: Lisa Reyes
Phone: +1-312-559-3325
E-Mail: lreyes@iec.org
CHICAGO - December 14, 2005 - Eta Kappa Nu (HKN), the electrical and computer engineering honor society, presented its Distinguished Service Award (DSA) to Purdue's Dr. David G. Meyer on Saturday, December 3, 2005, in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Awarding esteemed recognition to at most a single individual annually, the Distinguished Service Award honors those who have made significant contributions to the HKN society throughout their lifetime. This year's Distinguished Service Award pays tribute to Dr. Meyer and his commitment to HKN since 1973.
"It's a great honor to be recognized by such distinguished colleagues. I feel the DSA provides inspiration to those who wish to serve others through HKN," Dr. Meyer commented.
Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, Dr. Meyer's research interests include instructional multimedia systems, technology-based educational delivery, computer architecture and parallel processing, microprocessor system design and interfacing, and electro-acoustics.
HKN Executive Director Robert M. Janowiak noted, "Through his dedication to the Eta Kappa Nu organization and its student members at Purdue, Dr. Meyer has had a positive impact on the education and the careers of countless Purdue students."
Since 1986, Dr. Meyer has served as HKN Faculty Advisor for the Beta Chapter at Purdue. During this time, the Beta Chapter has received HKN's Outstanding Chapter Activities Award numerous times. This award recognizes excellence in college chapter activities. It is based on the contents and description of chapter activities contained in the Annual Chapter Report. Dr. Meyer guided the chapter to activities that improved professional development, raised instructional and institutional standards, encouraged scholarship and creativity, provided public service, and furthered the established goals of HKN.
In addition to his dedication to the local chapter, in 1989 he was elected to the HKN Board of Governors and served as vice president from 1992 to 1993 and president from 1993 to 1994. As an officer, Dr. Meyer spent considerable time encouraging chapters to become responsive to various HKN efforts, in particular by encouraging comments on proposed changes to the organization's constitution.
Dr. Meyer further noted, "I have thoroughly enjoyed my association with HKN, both at the local level (students and fellow faculty advisors) as well as at the national level (serving on the board and then as president). I have had the privilege of meeting and serving with some extraordinary individuals."
Throughout the course of his career, Dr. Meyer has received numerous awards recognizing his outstanding contributions as an educator. Among them are several presented by Purdue University, in addition to Haliburton's Education Foundation Award of Excellence, Honeywell's Award to an outstanding teacher in ECE at Purdue, the Amoco Foundation's Undergraduate Teaching Award, the William H. Hayt Outstanding Instructor in Electrical and Computer Engineering Award, presented by Purdue's Chapter of Eta Kappa Nu, and Eta Kappa Nu's C. Holmes MacDonald Outstanding Teacher Award.
When asked what Dr. Meyer felt HKN accomplishes, he responded, "The local HKN chapters recognize excellence in academic accomplishments, leadership, and service. They also serve an important social function within their respective ECE departments. Membership in an honorary and/or professional society is absolutely essential in the field of ECE."
A member of the IEEE, Eta Kappa Nu, and Tau Beta Pi, Dr. Meyer also has served on numerous departmental and university-wide committees at Purdue. He has authored or co-authored more than 100 books, research reports, journal articles, and technical reports. Dr. Meyer received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. from Purdue University.
For more information, please contact lreyes@iec.org or +1-312-559-3325 or visit www.hkn.org.
About the Distinguished Service Award
In recognition of dedicated service and long-term contributions to Eta Kappa Nu that have resulted in significant benefits for all members, Eta Kappa Nu created the Distinguished Service Award (DSA) to recognize those individuals who have made significant contributions to the society throughout their lives. The background for this important activity begin in 1939 when Founder Maurice L. Carr wrote, "Eta Kappa Nu grew because there have always been many members who were willing and eager to serve it loyally and unselfishly. I would like to see some form of recognition conferred upon members who have rendered such service to HKN."
In 1971, the Board of Governors approved the Distinguished Service Award recognition.
The DSA charter now limits this award to at most one individual per year.
About Eta Kappa Nu (HKN)
Eta Kappa Nu is a 100-year-old honor society for electrical and computer engineering students and professionals. With a history of more than 200,000 members and 200 university chapters, HKN recognizes excellence in academic accomplishments, leadership, outstanding character, and service. The International Engineering Consortium manages the headquarter function of Eta Kappa Nu. For more information, please visit www.hkn.org.