May 07, 2009 —

Paul Van Wieren (BSBME, EE emphasis) has been named USC’s Valedictorian for 2009. He has also been recognized with the University Trustees Award, having maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Paul joined USC as a Presidential Scholar. He has also been the recipient of a National Merit Scholarship, a USC Engineering Merit Scholarship, the ARCS Scholarship for college scientists, and membership in the W.V.T Rusch Engineering Honors Program. As a volunteer in the USC Chapter for Engineering Without Borders, he has been a technical project manager for a water distribution and sanitation project in rural Honduras. He has participated in research at Boston University’s Biomedical Optics Laboratory through the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates, and worked as an R&D intern at a medical optics company.

Farzana Ansari (BSBME) has been named a USC Global Scholar Designate. The Global Scholars program recognizes undergraduates who have excelled in their studies both at home and abroad. Farzana studied abroad in Paris through the Engineering Overseas Program, and also spent a semester at the National University of Ireland in Galway. Farzana has also received the Viterbi School’s Albert Dorman Future Leader Award, which is given annually to a senior with a high level of academic achievement and someone most likely to succeed as a leader in the future. Farzana joined USC as a Trustees Scholar and an Engineering Merit Research Scholar. She worked on research projects in various BME labs over the past 3 summers. She served in various executive roles in the Society of Women Engineers, and has been Associate Editor for Illumin Magazine for the past 3 years. She has also been a Viterbi Student Ambassador and a founding member of the USC chapter for Engineering World Health.

Ann Jun (BSBME)has won the Viterbi School’s Women in Engineering Award for 2009. This award is given to a senior female engineerwho has excelled academically in addition to holding leadership positions within the Viterbi and/or USC community. Ann has served as Publicity Director, Treasurer, Vice-President of Student Affairs, and most recently, President of the Society of Women Engineers. She has also been a Viterbi Student Ambassador, as well as Treasurer and Corporate Chair of the Associated Students of Biomedical Engineering. She has been a USC Presidential Scholar and Engineering Merit Research Scholar. She has participated in research at the Saban Research Institute of Childrens Hospital and the Cardiovascular Engineering Lab in BME. She has also worked as a summer intern at Edwards Lifesciences.

Ginger Slack (BSBME) has won the 2009 Fred S. Grodins Award for Academic Excellence in Biomedical Engineering. The Fred S. Grodins Undergraduate Award recognizes a graduating senior for outstanding academic achievement in the BME program. The eligibility criteria for this award include an outstanding cumulative major and overall GPA in the senior BME class, as well as an established record of participation in bioengineering research and service to the department and/or university. Ginger has been a USC Trustee Scholar with a cumulative GPA of 3.9. as well as a member of the Baccalaureate/MD program. For 3 consecutive summers, she worked in the research labs of the National Health Lung and Blood Institute, one of the largest components of the NIH. Over the past year, this she has been participating in research at the Tissue Engineering lab of the Department of Surgery in the Keck School of Medicine. She has been the Historian for the Society for Women Engineers and Secretary of the USC Ballroom and Latin Dance Competition Team.