Tampa, FL (February 17, 2006) - Today, at the Engineers Banquet in Tampa, Mr. Nikesh Patel was awarded the ASME Student Engineer of the Year Award.  He is a senior enrolled the University of South Florida’s Double Major engineering program pursuing a degree in both Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering.

Mr. Patel is on schedule to graduate in May ’06 with a BSME and a BSCE degree and is enrolled in the five–year Master of Science in Engineering program.  He received his Associates of Arts degree from Polk Community College in 2004 and then enrolled at USF to begin his engineering studies. He is a recipient of the Florida Bright future Medallion Scholarship and a Rotary Club scholarship. He is also an Officer in several Student organizations including ASME (Treasurer), ASCE (Chair) and ACI (Vice-President).

Mr. Patel has excelled in his academic classes winning 1st Place in a Machine Design class project contest as well as 1st Place in the ACI Highest Compressive Strength Concrete Mix competition.  He has served as the ASME Student Section Treasurer since 2005, and he participated in the ASME Regional Student Conference last spring. He has also attended several ASME FWC Section meetings and tours.

In April 2006, Nikesh plans to participate in the ASME Student Design Contest at the Spring Student Conference, to be held in Tampa, and he is involved in the USF Electrathon (Electric Car) design competition to be conducted at the annual USF Engineering EXPO. 

His extra-curricular and community activities include participation in USF intramural soccer; serving as Chair of the Student Government Athletic Activities committee, 2004-05; serving as Chairman of ASCE’s Community Service and Professional Engineering Review committee; being a Habitat for Humanity project volunteer; and participating in USF’s Engineering Expo activities.

In addition to pursuing his engineering degrees, since 2003 Mr. Patel has been gaining experience by working part time as an engineering intern for Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).  He is indeed a well-rounded engineering student and the Florida West Coast Section of ASME is proud to designate Mr. Patel as their “Student Engineer of the Year, 2006”.

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