Newswise — Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory electrical engineer Sara Kouroupis was recently named the Alton B. Zerby and Carl T. Koerner Outstanding Electrical and Computer Engineering Student for 2015 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE) international honor society, Eta Kappa Nu.
“I think receiving the award reflects both hard work and discipline in studying, as well as how important it is to have a balance of academia and extracurricular involvement,” said Kouroupis, a 2015 graduate of Auburn University. “I am honored to accept this award.”
Kouroupis, an Ellicott City, Md. native, began her career in at APL in June 2015. She said one of the primary reasons she chose APL was the Lab’s Discovery Program, a two-year rotational program that allows top college graduates to work three or four short-term assignments that span technical programs across APL.
“This program is about exploration and networking within your career,” said Discovery Program Manager Kathleen Baker. “Traditionally those are things that take time; you have to build them over years. By providing different experiences over a two-year rotation, this program offers a huge advantage.”
“I instantly met a group of 15 to 20 other recent graduates,” Kouroupis said of the Discovery Program. “This has been a great resource as to insight about other groups and projects across the Lab, as well as a support system of new hires who all started at the same time.”
Kouroupis is also working on her master’s degree in electrical engineering through the Johns Hopkins University Engineering for Professionals Program.
The IEEE Outstanding Electrical and Computer Engineering Student award is presented to the top electrical engineering senior in the U.S. Recipients are selected based on their exceptional scholastic excellence and high moral character, coupled with exemplary service to classmates, university, community and the nation.
Kouroupis earned a perfect 4.0 GPA at Auburn and participated in numerous campus, community and professional activities, including the Auburn University Program Council, Auburn Student Alumni Association, Auburn University Recreation and Wellness Center, Habitat for Humanity and the Society of Women Engineers. During college, she completed internships with AAI Corporation and APL.
Kouroupis will receive the award during the annual meeting of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Heads Association in March 2016, in La Jolla, Calif.
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