One Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering undergraduate student at Texas A&M University had an outstanding school year, winning numerous awards and honors for his scholarly and leadership roles.
Yashwant Prakash Vyas, a junior in the department, won the various awards for his service and commitment to the university and his community. They include the following:
1. Buck Weirus Spirit Award 2014, Association of Former Students & Department of Student Activities & Texas A&M University. This award honors students each year who demonstrate high involvement, create positive experiences throughout the Aggie community, impact student life at Texas A&M and enhance the Aggie spirit. The Buck Weirus Spirit Award, named for Richard "Buck" Weirus '42, recognizes students for their outstanding contributions to student life programs at Texas A&M University.
2. Margaret Rudder Community Service Award 2014, Department of Student Activities. The Margaret Rudder Community Service Award seeks to recognize and award those who significantly impact their community and, as a result, are themselves impacted by that contribution.
3. Class Star Award for Leadership 2014, Class Councils Texas A&M University. Class Stars is university-wide awards program aimed to annually recognize outstanding members of each class. This program is unique in that students are nominated by their peers in the categories of Academics, Athletics, Leadership, Service, and Spirit.
4. Diversity Certificate 2014, Department of Multicultural Services TAMU. Diversity certificate is an intensive certification program offered by the Department of Multicultural Services at Texas A&M University. Recipients are required to complete an academic component which consists of nine hours of diversity related course work, a co-curriculum which consists of 10 hours of participation in diversity related co-curricular activities, a service learning component which consists of 20 hours of involvement in an approved diversity related service project, and a capstone project which requires participants to demonstrate they have integrated and made sense of their experiences.
5. Leadership Certificate 2014, Student Government Association TAMU. The SGA Leadership Certificate is based on the Social Change Model of Leadership. The leadership certificate allows students to experience activities, programs and events that take place on campus and within the Bryan/College Station community, reflect upon their learning experiences and connect their learning experiences with the social change model of leadership.
6. ArtFest 2014, First Place, MSC Visual Arts committee, (For my Warali paintings, “Story of Aggieland in Maroon & White”). ArtFest is annual student art competition and exhibition sponsored by the Memorial Student Center's Visual Arts Committee.
7. Outstanding Service Award 2014, International Student Association Texas A&M University. Given to an officer for his/her service and leadership initiative to better the organization and help international students at Texas A&M University.
8. Brazos Valley World Fest 2013, First Prize, City of College Station/Bryan & TAMU, Individual booth on, “World Cultures: What We Have In Common.”
9. UNICEF Service Honor Stole 2014, TAMU UNICEF Chapter & UNICEF. Given to a member for their outstanding service to UNICEF.
Vyas is an international student at Texas A&M from India studying electrical engineering with a minor in mathematics. He transferred to Texas A&M in the fall of 2012 from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad India.
“I personally think that in the era of globalization it is essential to have a global mindset - a blend of experience and fluency in other cultures,” he said. “During my first year of engineering in India, I realized that getting an international exposure would add up to my self-confidence, independence, and cross cultural skills and my experiences in an international setting would greatly enrich my ability of understanding and communicating with people from different countries, which is in a way to gain a competitive edge for myself, both in social life and in the future job market.”
So after researching engineering programs all over the world, Vyas said he finally decided to come to the United States and Texas A&M because apart from having a highly ranked engineering program, it had lot of opportunities for overall professional development and student activities.
“I was impressed by the resources that A&M has for students, and by the leadership and service opportunities that A&M had to offer,” he said. “My decision to transfer to Texas A&M University is one of the best decisions I have ever taken in my life. I am both humbled and proud to be here. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to find out what I am capable of giving back to the world.”
During his time at Texas A&M Vyas has belonged on several student organizations at major leadership positions including the International Student Association, the Student Government Association Diversity Commission, the India Association, the Aggie Orientation Leaders Program, Camp Kesem, Muster 2014, Host, Aggie Replant, Texas A&M University-UNICEF Chapter, Texas Aggies Making Changes (12th CAN), Student Government Association, Indian Graduate Student Association, Texas A&M Emergency Care Team, Keep Brazos Beautiful, counselor at Fish Camp and transfer student ambassador for the Office of the Dean of Student Life, NSFP.