The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) presented University of Missouri-Rolla faculty members with two awards during the 2006 Region 5 Conference held April 7-8 in San Antonio.

Dr. Steve E. Watkins, professor of electrical and computer engineering at UMR, received the Region 5 Outstanding Member Award. This annual award recognizes an electrical or computer engineer in the region who has performed exemplary service to the profession. Watkins, who has been a UMR faculty member since 1989, was cited for his precollege outreach, public policy activities, and professional service. He has given numerous professional presentations across the region and was a principal contributor to the development of the IEEE Student Ethics Competition.

Dr. Jagannathan Sarangapani, professor of electrical and computer engineering at UMR, received the Region 5 Outstanding Branch Counselor Award. This annual award is presented to an IEEE student branch faculty advisor who best supports the local professional activities for electrical and computer students. Sarangapani, who has been the UMR branch faculty advisor since 2003, was cited for his leadership in increasing the number and quality of the programs and activities at the UMR IEEE student branch.

“These awards recognize the contributions of our faculty members to this worthy organization,” says Dr. Kelvin Erickson, chair of the electrical and computer engineering department at UMR.

IEEE’s Region 5 consists of Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kansas, Colorado and portions of Illinois, New Mexico, Wyoming, Nebraska and South Dakota.