Julie Ann Wiens

SOCORRO, N.M., May 13, 2000 - Julie Ann Wiens, a 1995 graduate of Moriarity High School, was presented with two of New Mexico Tech's top awards at commencement ceremonies today at the state university. Wiens is the daughter of Keith and Chris Neel and Jay Johnson.

Wiens received the Brown Award, New Mexico Tech's highest award to an undergraduate. The Brown Award winner is selected by faculty on the basis of scholarship, conduct, and leadership. She also received the Cramer Award for the woman engineering student with the highest grades.

Wiens earned her bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from New Mexico Tech in December 1999. She has spent the past semester on campus, working as a teaching assistant in the electrical engineering department and as a robotics research assistant.

In April, a robot designed and built by Wiens placed second in a field of nearly 100 entries in the Seventh Annual Fire-Fighting Home Robot Contest, an international contest held annually at Trinity College. Her robot also received the "Innovation and Marketability Award" for her resourceful design incorporating a ring of sensors.

Wiens has received a number of academic honors and awards, including a scholarship from the American Association of University Women and runner-up position as Engineering Student of the Year for 2000.

She has been active in many campus activities and organizations. Some of her activities have been:

• Society of Women Engineers
• Treasurer of Tau Beta Pi engineering honorary society
• Captain of women's basketball team
• Captain of New Mexico Tech's women's volleyball club
• Founding member of Student-Produced Leisure Activities at Tech (SPLAT)
• Coordinator of 49ers homecoming celebration
• Coordinator of summer conference facilities during the summer of 1999