The Society for Mexican American Engineers, or MAES, has honored a Cullen College student for her efforts on behalf of the organization.
Megan Planas, a junior biomedical engineering major, has been named the winner of MAES’ 2010 President’s Award. The recognition, part of MAES’ Bravo awards program, goes to individuals “who have shown extraordinary dedication and exemplary work on a specific project having far-reaching implications to MAES.”
Planas has worked extensively on behalf of MAES in recent years. She developed the organization’s newsletter; helped create a policy for the distribution of funding for events held by MAES’ university chapters; and oversaw volunteers and onsite coordination for the group’s 2009 Science Extravaganza. Held last fall in Las Vegas, Nev., the event exposed junior high school and high school students from that area to science and engineering experiments and gave them the chance to hear from professionals in the STEM fields.
Planas was nominated for the award by the professional mentor she met through MAES. “This is pretty much the highest honor a student can get,” she said. “I didn’t even know students could get a Bravo Award. I thought it was only for professionals, so this is very flattering.”
She will receive the award at MAES’ upcoming National Symposium, set for Sept. 29 to Oct. 2 in Anaheim, Calif.