UMass Amherst Computer Scientist Wins UMass President’s Award for Fostering IT Education Across the State
AMHERST, Mass. - W. Richards "Rick" Adrion, professor of computer science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, today will receive the UMass President’s Award for Public Service from Jack M. Wilson in recognition of his leadership in developing, broadening, expanding and improving computing and information technology activities for students in grades K-12 and at colleges and universities across the Commonwealth.
(Media-Newswire.com) - AMHERST, Mass. - W. Richards "Rick" Adrion, professor of computer science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, today will receive the UMass President’s Award for Public Service from Jack M. Wilson in recognition of his leadership in developing, broadening, expanding and improving computing and information technology activities for students in grades K-12 and at colleges and universities across the Commonwealth.
Adrion has organized countless information technology workshops over the past 10 years and expanded the Commonwealth Information Technology Initiative ( CITI ) from a college-level-only partnership so it now has touched the lives of hundreds of students in grades K-12, and at community colleges and universities, according to colleagues who nominated him for the honor.
Adrion also leads the Commonwealth Alliance for Information Technology Education ( CAITE ), a $4 million National Science Foundation-sponsored project that’s active at nine community colleges, two state universities and four UMass campuses. It focuses on bringing more women and minorities into IT education and the work force. Since it began in 2007, CAITE has involved approximately 15,000 Massachusetts students and educators at all levels. Activities range from professional development sessions for teachers to more than 130 outreach events, exciting activities and fun competitions for students from middle school through college.
Andrew Barto, chair of the computer science department, said, "This is a very well-deserved honor. Throughout his career at UMass Amherst, Rick has worked tirelessly to expand and strengthen computing and information technology opportunities across the Commonwealth and beyond. Rick cares deeply about expanding opportunities for study and work in these fields, and through his role as director of the CAITE and co-director of CITI, he has been able to make crucial contributions."
Adrion is one of five Massachusetts educators receiving the president’s award today in a luncheon ceremony at the University of Massachusetts Club in Boston.
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