Published by Communications and Public Affairs (519) 824-4120, Ext. 56982 or 53338
News Release
May 07, 2003
Student wins NRC Women in Engineering, Science award
A University of Guelph student has been selected to take part in the prestigious National Research Council's (NRC) Women in Engineering and Science Program.
Anna Allen, who is pursuing a double major in chemistry and computing science, is one of 25 students selected from across the country. Designed to encourage women to pursue careers in engineering, science and mathematics, the NRC program hires students for two to three years to work in its laboratories across Canada on research projects during summer or co-op work terms.
“I was quite happy,” said Allen. “The NRC institutes are world-class facilities. I’ll get a chance to be in three different institutes if I choose. I’ll be able to see research from all the different areas.” In addition to gaining valuable experience in NRC laboratories, Allen will benefit from being paired with an NRC scientist or engineer who will act as a mentor.
Julie Horrocks, a mathematics and statistics professor who sits on a U of G review committee for the NRC program, said “Anna is an amazing person, an excellent student and a dedicated volunteer.” While fellow committee member Val Davidson, an engineering professor, added that Allen “has an outstanding academic record and is able to balance that with a lot of extracurricular activities.”
In her first year at U of G, Allen was one of the youngest computing tutorial assistants in the Department of Computing and Information Science. She also led a supported learning group (SLG) for first-year chemistry students and took part in the Campus Pen Pals program designed to help first-year students adjust to university life. Allen was recently recognized for having the highest average among all SLG peer helpers at U of G — about 93 per cent. Following her first year at U of G, she received a dean’s scholarship for having one of the highest averages in the College of Physical and Engineering Science.
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt, (519) 824-4120, Ext. 53338 or Rachelle Cooper, (519) 824-4120, Ext. 56982.
