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Center for Excellence in Education 2008 Annual Capitol Hill Luncheon

The Russell Senate Caucus Room was the setting for the Center for Excellence in Education’s 2008 annual Capitol Hill Luncheon. The illustrious panel discussion, moderated by Joann DiGennaro, President of CEE, focused on the importance of advancing engineering in the United States to assure innovation and competitiveness.

The panel members:

  • Mr. Wes Bush, President and COO of Northrop Grumman Corporation
  • Dr. Leah H. Jamieson, John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering and Ransburg Distinguished Professor of Electrical
    and Computer Engineering at Purdue University
  • Lieutenant General James A. Abrahamson USAF (Ret.), former Director of the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization, current Chairman & CEO of several corporations, and Chairman of the Exploration Committee of the NASA Advisory Council.

    Senators John Warner, Arlen Specter, and Joseph Lieberman along with Congressman Eric Cantor made remarks about the importance of STEM education in the United States.

(From left to right) Panelists Lt. General James A. Abrahamson USAF (Ret.), former Director of the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization, Mr. Wes Bush, President and COO of Northrop Grumman Corporation, and Dr. Leah H. Jamieson, John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering and Ransburg Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University with Joann DiGennaro, CEE President. Joann DiGennaro with Mr. Mel Chaskin, Chairman of the CEE Board of Trustees and Heng Chee Chan, Singapore’s Ambassador to the United States. Senator Joseph Lieberman (ID-CT), honorary member of the CEE Board of Trustees, with Mr. Gregg Orley and Mrs. Harriet Orley, friends of the Center. Mr. Wes Bush, President and COO of Northrop Grumman Corporation with Mr. Wendell Maddox, President and CEO of ION Corporation and member of the CEE Board of Trustees
 

 

    

CEE/Booz Allen Hamilton Webcast: From Education to Enterprise
December 10, 2007
Newman Auditorium. Booz Allen Hamilton. McLean, VA

The December 10th CEE/Booz Allen Hamilton Webcast, “From Education to Enterprise,” focused on a discussion about the rapid pace of scientific and technologic advances and the necessity for this nation to remain innovative and competitive.

The esteemed list of panelists, moderated by Joann DiGennaro, President of the Center for Excellence in Education consisted of Eileen M. Collins, Colonel, USAF, Ret., NASA Astronaut, Douglas Himberger, Vice President, Booz Allen Hamilton, Michael H. Jordan, Chairman of the Board, Electronic Data Systems Corporation and Steve Wozniak, Co-Founder, Apple Computer.

Doug Himberger and Joann DiGennaro at the Webcast event Joann DiGennaro and Douglas Himberger (seated), and Steve Wozniak (on screen) Joann DiGennaro and Doug Himberger (seated), with Col. Eileen Collins, and Michael H. Jordan (on screen)

Doug Himberger and Joann
DiGennaro at the Webcast
event

Joann DiGennaro and Douglas
Himberger (seated), and Steve
Wozniak (on screen)

Joann DiGennaro and Douglas Himberger (seated), with Col. Eileen Collins, and Michael H. Jordan (on screen)

CEE’s Corporate Donors Recruits Research
Science Institute Alumni

To demonstrate CEE’s gratitude to and appreciation for its donors, CEE’s September Recruitment Reception in Cambridge, Massachusetts brought Rickoids together to meet with companies recruiting for summer internships and full time employment.

The Center hosted its first-ever Rickoid Recruitment Reception where East Coast alumni of the Research Science Institute met with outstanding companies which support the Center and its mission to nurture young scholars to careers of excellence and leadership in science and technology. Akamai Technologies, Booz Allen Hamilton, Electronic Data Systems, and International Game Technology met with enthusiastic and talented undergraduate and graduate students from MIT and Harvard, as well as RSI alumni in the greater Boston workforce.

Gillian Koenig of Akamai Technologies (right) shares information with Beatrice Parker, RSI ’06. An excited Rickoid learns about International Game Technology from IGT representatives CJ Burk and Tom Gray. Bill Phifer, an EDS Fellow, enthusiastically touts EDS’ programs. Chris Carlson, of Booz Allen Hamilton speaks with two eager Rickoids.
Rickoids on the Job Hunt in Cambridge, MA.      

A second recruitment reception took place in Palo Alto, California on November 13th. SAP, International Game Technology, Booz Allen Hamilton, Symantec, Google, and Northrop Grumman met with aspiring and accomplished West Coast RSI alumni from Stanford and University of California Berkeley.

Northrop Grumman representatives Mike Smith, Susan Yee, and Tami Randolph speak with enthusiastic Rickoids CJ Burk of IGT (left) answers questions from Ariel Kleiner, RSI ’01 Rickoids on the Job Hunt in Palo Alto, CA. Jozsef Kerekes of SAP speaks with Leslis Hsu, RSI ‘95
Jennifer Ashton of Booz Allen Hamilton speaks with Andy Charman, RSI ‘86 Rickoids around the Google table    

 

Akamai Technologies Hosts Reception
for CEE in October

Mr. Jonathan Pettus, Chief Information Officer of NASA, was the guest speaker at a reception on October 30, 2007, hosted by Dr. Tom Leighton, Founder and Chief Scientist of Akamai Technologies and member of the CEE Board of Trustees. Dr. Leighton gave opening remarks and Joann DiGennaro, President of the Center for Excellence in Education, provided the audience with the Center’s history and an overview of its continued mission. Mr. Pettus discussed the need to secure technology while ensuring this nation’s competitive future. He also addressed the importance of ensuring the education of young scholars. The event was held at Akamai’s Reston, VA facility for friends of CEE.

Joann DiGennaro with Chief Information Officer of NASA, Mr. Jonathan Pettus, and Chief Scientist of Akamai Technologies, Dr. Tom Leighton at the October reception Ada Undie, RSI ’07 with her father, Dr. Ashiwel Undie at the CEE/Akamai Technologies Reception Guests of the CEE/Akamai Technologies Reception watching Mr. Pettus’ presentation

 


Center for Excellence in Education
Annual Capitol Hill Luncheon

The Center for Excellence in Education held its annual Capitol Hill luncheon on May 9 th at the Hart Senate Office Building and featured a discussion about the importance of rigorous math/science education to make the United States more competitive globally. The discussion was moderated by Admiral Bobby R. Inman, U.S. Navy (Ret.), LBJ Centennial Chair in National Policy at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin and featured:

  • Dr. Trey Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at SAIC
  • Dr. William Wulf, President of the National Academy of Engineering
  • Dr. Alan Merten, President of George Mason University

Clarine Nardi Riddle, Chief of Staff, Senator Joseph Lieberman, Joann DiGennaro and Dr. William Rees, Deputy under Secretary of Defense, U.S. Department of Defense

Clarine Nardi Riddle, Chief of Staff, Senator Joseph Lieberman, Joann DiGennaro and Dr. William Rees, Deputy under Secretary of Defense, U.S. Department of Defense.

Senator Joseph Lieberman, Senator John Warner and Representative Tom Davis made comments about the relationship of educating top achieving students in competitiveness and innovation.

Senator John Warner, Dr. William Wulf, Admiral Bobby R. Inman, U.S. Navy (Ret.), LBJ Centennial Chair in National Policy at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, Joann DiGennaro, President of CEE Senator Joseph Liebermann and Joann DiGennaro, President of CEE Joann DiGennaro, President of CEE and The Honorable Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (Ambassador of Kuwait) Admiral Bobby R. Inman, U.S. Navy (Ret.), LBJ Centennial Chair in National Policy at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, Dr. Alan Merten, President of George Mason University, Dr. Trey Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at SAIC and Vladimir Ossenov, President Bulgarian American Business Center.

CAPITOL HILL SPEAKING SERIES

Was hosted by The American Gas Association on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 and featured:

 

The Honorable Ellen O. Tauscher, Representative for the 10th District of California Chairman,House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee Chair, New Democrat Coalition, Honorary Member of the CEE Board of Trustees

Congresswoman Ellen O. Tauscher and Dr. Steven Chu

 

Special Guest

Dr. Steven Chu, Director, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Recipient of the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics,
Dr. Chu has been the Director of Berkeley Lab since 2004.

 

James Chuo, former RSI 2000 alumnus, Dr. Steven Chu, Pam Krahl, M.D., former 1985 RSI alumnus and Joann DiGennaro, President of CEE.

The luncheon focused on the importance of rigorous math and science education as the world increasingly seeks alternative energy sources.

Through the Capitol Hill Speakers Series, the Center for Excellence in Education convenes experts interested in promoting U.S. innovation and competitiveness in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, including members of the business community, government affairs and academia.

THE CYRIL AND METHODIUS INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION HONORED JOANN P. DIGENNARO

Joann DiGennaro, President of the Center for Excellence in Education, was honored on April 11th at the Bulgarian Embassy in Washington, DC. The Cyril and Methodius International Foundation in Sofia honored DiGennaro for her philanthropic work, and her successful efforts to further educational partnerships with governmental agencies, organizations, and corporations in the U.S. and Bulgaria.

Joann DiGennaro, President of the Center, Elena PoptoDorva, Ambassador, Bulgarian Embassy, and Dr. Petar Kenderov, President, St. Cyril and Methodius foundation.

Dr. Petar Kenderov, Mr. Michael Tachev and Dr. George Atkinson Maria Nikolova, Joann DiGennaro, and Dr. Velitchka Nikolaeva Dr. James Saunters, Paul Callahan, Senior Legislative Assistant, Office of Congressman Joe Wilson, Clarine Nardi Riddle, Chief of Staff, Office of Senator Joseph Lieberman, and Joann DiGennaro.

AKAMAI RECEPTION

On March 8, 2007 Dr. Tom Leighton, Founder and Chief Scientist, Akamai Technologies, Inc., and Trustee of the Center for Excellence in Education, hosted an event at Akamai headquarters in Cambridge , MA . This event was held to introduce the Research Science Institute, a program to nurture young scholars to careers of excellence and leadership in science and technology, to local businesses and community leaders. Joann DiGennaro, President and Founder, of the Center for Excellence in Education, Cliff Bowman, RSI Class of 1984, and Marc Horowitz, RSI Class of 1987 were featured speakers at this event.