CIS Undergraduate Colin Axel Named 2012 Goldwater Scholar

2012 RIT Goldwater Scholars

Taken from an article from 4/27/12 by Suzanne O’Handley - Read the full article here

Colin Axel, a junior majoring in Imaging Science, will receive $7500 for his senior year. Colin has conducted research in the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science at RIT, under the direction of Dr. Anthony Vodacek and currently with Dr. Carl Salvaggio, both projects involving remote sensing, the first modeling algae growth in Lake Ontario, and the second involving remotely determining the weight of a passing vehicle. Colin also participated in a summer REU at the University of Kansas studying ice sheets through remote sensing. Colin plans to obtain his Ph.D. in Imaging Science with a focus on remote sensing, and plans to both teach and conduct research in the areas of environmental remote sensing, LIDAR, and emergency response to natural disasters. Colin’s accolades include: a SMART grant, RIT Presidential Scholarship, Omnova Scholarship, Nathaniel Rochester Society Scholarship, and a Carlson Imaging Excellence Award. Colin is also in the RIT four year Honors Program. Colin’s other activities include involvement in Habitat for Humanity, the Academic Conduct Committee, the Outing Club, and Intramural Sports.

The $7,500 per year scholarship covers tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Goldwater Scholars compose an elite group with 78 Rhodes Scholarships, 112 Marshall Awards, and 104 Churchhill Scholarships being awarded to past Goldwater Scholars. Three past RIT Goldwater Scholars have recently won NSF Predoctoral Fellowships.

Two RIT undergraduates, Kimbria Blake from Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and Axel from Farmington, New York have been named 2012 Goldwater Scholars. Samuel Kennedy, a junior Applied Mathematics major, from Bristol, Connecticut, received an honorable mention.