The Bridge - Issue 1, 2022 - 27

History Spotlight
Dr. Vineetha Menon
Dr. Vineetha Menon,
University of Alabama
in Huntsville, credits
IEEE and IEEE-HKN
with, " mentorship
platforms that have a
significant role in my
professional success. "
Menon, the 2021
OYP recipient, said,
" The OYP award is a
testament to my core
belief that 'no dream is too big, and no change is
too small. So be bold and pursue your aspirations
that'll leave a lasting impact on society.' It is a
recognition of my efforts in dreaming big in all
aspects of my professional life. "
Roger Ivan Wilkinson (1903-1985) was an electrical
engineer prominent in the profession and in Eta Kappa Nu. In
1924, he graduated from Iowa State University and became
an HKN member through the Nu Chapter. He held positions
in the Bell System, which led to a 45-year career with Bell
Telephone Laboratories. He received a Presidential Medal of
Merit for his technical contributions to the war effort related to
radar and was elevated to IEEE Fellow " for contributions to the
application of probability and statistics in the engineering of
communication systems. " His estate established the Wilkinson
Professor at Iowa State University.
Wilkinson was a life-long volunteer for Eta Kappa Nu.
Highlights of his HKN service are: New York Alumni Chapter
President 1928-29, National Vice President 1932-33,
National President 1933-34, and Outstanding Young Electrical
Engineer Committee member 1935-85. He authored articles
in THE BRIDGE across several decades and contributed to
many HKN developments, including the 1934 appointment
of Alton B. Zerby as a salaried Executive Secretary. He is
remembered as the founder of the OYEE Award for his work
as OYEE Chair from 1935-42 and for his sustained OYEE
committee support. HKN recognized him with its second
Distinguished Service Award in 1972 and memorialized his
lifetime of service in an article in THE BRIDGE, 82(2), 1985
[see issue archive at https://ethw.org/Eta_Kappa_Nu].
Steve E. Watkins was the 2018 President of IEEE-Eta Kappa
Nu and received the 2021 IEEE-HKN Distinguished Service
Award. He was inducted into the Gamma Theta Chapter at
Missouri University of Science and Technology and currently
serves as a Faculty Advisor for the Gamma Theta Chapter.
He is the Professor and Chair of the Department of Electrical
and Computer Engineering at Missouri S&T.
Are You Eta
Kappa Nu?
Show Your
Eta Kappa Nu!
If it's not on your card, it's not
in your IEEE membership
record. Let us know!
800-406-2590
info@hkn.org
www.hkn.org
HKN.ORG
27

https://www.ethw.org/Eta_Kappa_Nu https://hkn.ieee.org/ieee-hkn-alumni-reconnect-form https://careers.ti.com/ https://hkn.ieee.org/ https://hkn.ieee.org/

The Bridge - Issue 1, 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Bridge - Issue 1, 2022