MARIETTA, Ga. | Sep 18, 2017

A Kennesaw State University student is in rare company after being named one of 17 students worldwide to receive the Richard E. Merwin Scholarship presented by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Computer Society.

Victor Sahin, a senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science in Kennesaw State’s College of Computing and Software Engineering, is the lone U.S.-based recipient for the scholarship. The remaining student scholars represented 12 different universities in Australia, India and Iraq. The $40,000 scholarship pool was open to graduate and undergraduate students in their final two years of study.

“As one of only 17 recipients in the world and the only recipient from the U.S., this is quite an impressive achievement,” said Jon Preston, dean of the College of Computing and Software Engineering. “We are all very pleased that Victor has represented KSU and CCSE so well.”

The scholarship, named in honor of IEEE Computer Society’s late past president, is awarded semiannually to student members who are enrolled in a program in electrical or computer engineering, computer science, information technology or any other well-defined computer field. Applicants were evaluated based on their participation in local IEEE chapter activities, academic achievement, extracurricular activities and a letter of recommendation from an advisor.

With his selection, Sahin will now serve as the IEEE Computer Society student ambassador for the Southeast region.

“[Receiving this scholarship] means my college accomplishments were endorsed by an excellent organization, and I am on the right track with my efforts,” said Sahin, who would like to continue his studies while seeking a career in data analytics and artificial intelligence after graduating in May.

In addition to easing the financial burden of college, Sahin said the scholarship will bolster his resume when he applies to graduate programs. 

With more than 60,000 members, the IEEE Computer Society is one of the world’s leading membership organizations dedicated to computer science and technology.

Written by Travis Highfield
Photography by David Caselli