Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Math and Engineering Mentoring

Maja J. Mataric of USC has been named a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Math and Engineering Mentoring, and was honored at a White House ceremony last week.  Candidates are nominated by colleagues, administrators and students (elementary grades through graduate school) at their home institutions, according to the White House website.  Honorees receive a $10,000 award to advance their mentoring efforts in recognition of the "crucial role that mentoring plays in the academic and personal development of students studying science or engineering—particularly those who belong to groups that are underrepresented in those fields."  http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/01/21/president-honors-outstanding-science-math-engineering-mentors