IEEE Presidents’ Scholarship Honors Teen Innovators

About 16 percent of the global population—more than 1 billion people—live with some form of disability, according to the World Health Organization. Many of the disabilities affect independence and mobility.Three high school students working on inventions to help people with disabilities restore movement, translate thoughts, and navigate rough terrain had their work showcased at Regeneron’s International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), held in May in Phoenix. Their projects earned them this year’s IEEE Presidents’ Scholarship awards.IEEE President Mary Ellen Randall presented the awards at a ceremony held during the fair. They also received an IEEE President’s coin, which students said was a highlight of their experience.Hollie Tang won this year’s IEEE Presidents’ Scholarship of US $10,000 for her wheelchair navigation system. The award is payable over four years of undergraduate university study and includes a complimentary IEEE student membership.Partap Sidhum, the second-place winner, received a $600 scholarship for his mind-controlled lower-limb exoskeleton. Third-place winner Calvin Shang Hung received a $400 scholarship for his rough-terrain robot. Sidhum and Hung also g