The Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship was created to encourage women to excel in computing and technology and become active role models and leaders. Scholarships are awarded based on the strength of candidates' academic background and demonstrated leadership. Wahba and Feaster both received a $10,000 scholarship for the 2008-2009 academic year. Remaining finalists received $1,000 each.

"I didn't expect to get the scholarship because all those who received it from previous years were from the top 10 universities, and less than 10 percent of those who apply received it," said Wahba. "I was extremely happy when a representative from Google called me to inform me I received the scholarship. It was a great sense of satisfaction and I'm assured that I'm going in the right path in my career."

In order to receive the scholarship, applicants must fulfill the following requirements: be entering their senior year of undergraduate study or be enrolled in a graduate program in 2008-2009 at a university in the United States; major in computer science, computer engineering or a related technical field; be enrolled in full-time study in 2008-2009; and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5.

"I feel extremely honored to have been selected for this scholarship. Anita Borg was a champion advocate for women in the science and technology field, and I commend Google for honoring her life work with these scholarships," Feaster said.

For more information about Clemson's graduate programs in computer science and computer engineering, please visit (respectively): www.grad.clemson.edu/programs/CompSci/index.php
www.grad.clemson.edu/programs/CompEng/index.php

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded $2 million to the Center for Biological Interfaces of Engineering (CBIOE) at Clemson University for the development of engineered tissues that will be used to study the causes, progression and treatment of breast cancer.

Breast cancer cells migrate and intertwine with stem cells. Clemson researchers will study the formation of patterns/migration.The tissue engineering technology, which was pioneered at Clemson, is based on inkjet printing and will allow the creation of identical tissue samples that can be used to build cause and effect models.

"We will expose these identical tissue models to different environmental conditions to better understand what causes and then stimulates the development of breast cancer. Our research team includes breast cancer surgeons, engineers and scientists - the breadth of expertise is tremendous and absolutely crucial for this very complex problem," said CBIOE director Karen Burg, who will lead the multi-disciplinary research team.

Other collaborating investigators include Steve Ellis and Susan Duckett in animal and veterinary sciences, Thomas Boland in bioengineering, Amy Moran in biological sciences, Jason McNeill in chemistry and Rick Groff and Timothy Burg in electrical and computer engineering. The initiative will benefit from input from CBIOE partnering institutions Carolinas Medical Center, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

The CBIOE, located in Rhodes Engineering Research Building at Clemson University, is a state-approved research and training center. Its mission is to promote the development of clinically relevant biomaterials technology and products for disease treatment and the transfer of this technology for patient care.

The NSF grant was among seven awarded to institutions to advance basic knowledge and control in the area of cellular and biomolecular engineering through the newly established NSF Emerging Frontiers in Research Innovation Office (EFRI). Other institutions receiving EFRI awards are John Hopkins University, University of Maryland, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, University of Virginia and University of Wisconsin.

This latest gift establishes the Milton W. and Betty M. Holcombe Fund for Excellence to provide for programs such as undergraduate research for seniors and improved graduate education, visiting lecturers nad faculty and student enrichment.

"It is amazing to see the changes to the department since I was here," said Milt Holcombe, a 1953 graduate. "Betty and I still enjoy coming back to visit with the students and we are proud of the tremendous focus Clemson gives to its students. It is wonderful to see the employment opportunities these engineering students now have to stay in the state of South Carolina. That is something that was not available to me when I was in school."

An airborne communications systems pioneer, Milt Holcombe is originally from Central and now lives in Dallas with his wife, Betty, who grew up in Clemson. His career included development of the airborne command post systems for the Air Force to keep the president in touch with key officials during an international crisis.

He co-founded Electrospace Systems Inc., a multimillion-dollar telecommunications and navigation systems firm, later sold to the Chrysler Corp. Because of the Holcombes' investment over the last 20 years, Clemson has gained national prominence in the field of electronic communications, and electrical and computer engineering students have gained opportunities that will help them shape the future of communications.

"The generosity of the Holcombes will help us take the department of electrical and computer engineering to an even higher level," said newly appointed ECE department chairman Darren Dawson. "We plan to establish several new programs to ensure that we maintain our best and brightest students and faculty."

"This is truly an endorsement of the electrical and computer engineering department," said engineering and science Dean Esin Gulari. "This is the fuel that will get the word out about the high-quality research and propel the department's excellent reputation even further."

In addition to longtime support of Clemson through annual giving and volunteer service, the Holcombes created the Milton W. and Betty Holcombe Chair in Electrical and Computer Engineering in 1987 with a $1 million cash gift. Their support attracted to Clemson Michael Pursley, a world-class communications research scientist, who holds the chair.