UMaine Student Wins National Engineering Award
Contact: Joe Carr at (207) 581-3571
ORONO — Adding to his already-remarkable list of achievements, University of Maine student Matthew Rodrigue has been named the top electrical engineering student in the nation. Eta Kappa Nu, the national electrical engineering honor society, has announced Rodrigue as the winner of the Alton T. Zerby and Carl T. Koerner Outstanding Electrical Engineering Student award.
“I was honored just to have been nominated,” Rodrigue says. “I never expected to actually win.”
Rodrigue is a Wilton native who graduated from Mt. Blue High School. He will finish his UMaine coursework in August, upon completion of two summer courses. He will graduate with two degrees — one in electrical engineering and one in computer engineering. A Rhodes Scholar finalist, Rodrigue was recently named outstanding graduate in the UMaine College of Engineering. He also served as president of UMaine Student Government and as the student trustee on the University of Maine System Board of Trustees. The president of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity in 2001-2002, he was last year elected to that organization’s national board of directors. Rodrigue has been honored as UMaine’s Student Leader of the Year and Fraternity Man of the Year. During the fall sports season, he has served as cross-country coach at Orono High School.
Rodrigue has a 3.98 grade point average. He will take some time off after finishing his UMaine coursework, with future plans to attend law school. He says that the Eta Kappa Nu honor stands out among the other accolades that have come his way.
“It’s pretty neat, because it’s a national honor and it’s within my field of study.” Rodrigue says. “I’m also pleased because it brings distinction to the electrical engineering program, the College of Engineering and to UMaine.”
Rodrigue’s nomination was spearheaded by classmate Michael Chasse, a native of Presque Isle.
“Matt is a truly outstanding student and a fine young man,” says UMaine Executive Vice President and Provost Robert Kennedy. “He has been an invaluable member of our community, serving this university and his fellow students in numerous capacities, all while doing exemplary work in the classroom.”
Larryl Matthews, dean of UMaine’s College of Engineering, points out that Rodrigue complements academic prowess with “great” interpersonal skills.
“Matt is comfortable with members of the Board of Trustees, the president of the university, faculty members and fellow students,” Matthews says. “His leadership with student government, the board of trustees and his fraternity shows a wide range of participation and acceptance by those who work with him at every level.”
Rodrigue is the son of Charlie and Pauline Rodrigue of Wilton. He will receive the award at Eta Kappa Nu’s national meeting in Illinois on Oct. 23.