The purpose of this award is to recognize an undergraduate/graduate student member of IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) who has overcome barriers to pursue engineering and/or who has made a personal impact in their community through their dedication and involvement in projects or activities directed toward fulfilling one or more of the IEEE WIE goals and objectives.
Schedule
The 2025 Awards submissions window is now closed. It will reopen January 2026 for the 2026 Awards Program.
Scope
One award annually
Eligibility
- An IEEE Student Member or Graduate Student Member as of the submission deadline
- A member of IEEE WIE for at least two consecutive (2) years
- Must not be a past recipient of the IEEE Women in Engineering Inspiring Student Member of the Year Award
Basis Of Selection
- Letters of Endorsement by professors and fellow members
- Service to IEEE WIE at Student Branch, Section or Society level
- Service to non-IEEE professional/technical organizations
- Candidates will be evaluated based on their IEEE WIE volunteer participation and community involvement; not on academic achievement
Nomination Package
- Completed nomination form, completed by the nominator
- Two (2) letters of endorsement
Selection Committee
-
The winner will be recommended by the IEEE WIE Awards Subcommittee and approved by the IEEE WIE Committee.
Prize
- Certificate of Recognition
- Cash prize US$500
Instructions & Guidelines For Award Nominations
Nominators can submit nominations, endorsers can upload endorsement letters all within the online system.
Please email wie-award@ieee.org if you have any questions about this award or the IEEE WIE Awards process.
2024 IEEE WIE Inspiring Student Member of the Year
Winner: Mishel Anjalika (R10) (Pictured)
“As a dedicated member of IEEE Women in Engineering, I am passionate about empowering others to pursue their dreams in STEM. The strength of teamwork and creativity inspires me to break barriers, challenge the status quo, and redefine what’s possible.”
Honorable Mention: Gaurav Pathak (R10)
Honorable Mention: Sneha Narasimhan (R3)
Sahar Youssuf – Tunisia Section (R8)
“What inspires me is technology’s incredible potential to alter lives and have a good influence on humanity. I am interested in applying engineering ideas to actual-life issues and developing unique solutions that benefit both people and communities.”
Honorable Mention:
- Shruti Kuhar – Delhi Section (R10)
- Abirami Chandramouli -Kerala Section (R10)
Moira Bastos Prates (R9)
Knowing that it is possible to encourage people, share knowledge and change lives through volunteering and technology is what inspires and motivates me to pursue the IEEE WIE mission in my community.
Honorable Mention: Mahsa Bataghva Shahbaz (R7)
Honorable Mention: Aryan (R10)
Winner (pictured): Syed Sadia Hossain (R10)
I feel inspired to be the reason for someone’s growth and improvement. Comparing my past self to the present, helps me to understand how much I need to push myself. That’s what also inspires me to add value to society and people, through my work.
Winner (pictured): Ana Hellen Carvalho dos Santos (R9)
It inspires me to know that we can help people, through our actions and projects, bring knowledge and make a difference in the lives of others is what I love most. The mission of IEEE WIE allows me to positively impact the lives of girls and young people, and that is incredible for me.
Honorable Mention: Mariana Larissa Antunes da Costa (R9)
Honorable Mention: Fatima Oviedo (R9)
Indhumathi Gunasekaran (R10, Panimalar Institute of Technology, Chennai Section, India)
“Success is just one-step away from where you have fallen the last time. Wake up and progress. You will sure attain it, if not today but definitely one day. I always take inspiration from people who are dedicated in achieving the targeted goals. The dedication and the enthusiastic that one shows towards their work inspires me a lot.”
Honorable Mentions
- Ana Hellen Carvalho dos Santos (R9)
- Rossana Gauto Moran (R9)
Naila Mukhtar (R10, New South Wales Section)
“Throughout the past several years, Elena has substantially and consistently contributed to the expansion of the IEEE WIE in the R7. She tirelessly worked on organizing multiple local- and regional-level activities, which promoted women in STEM, increased visibility of WIE in Canada, and grew WIE membership base. Elena built teams of volunteers to facilitate proper administration of growing WIE activity in London Section and in R7.She has also approached every Canadian IEEE Section without active WIE engagement to encourage and help them start WIE groups or invigorate the dormant ones. In addition, she set a personal example of a strong and vibrant leader for the WIE Canada Chairs to follow. Despite her busy schedule as a doctoral student, Elena enthusiastically takes on leadership of large IEEE WIE events in her Region.
For example, she has organized the WIE Canada Congress in 2016, and in the beginning of 2018, she took on a journey of initiating and co-Chairing one of the most prominent events in the IEEE Canada WIE – the WIE ILS Toronto’18. This is the first Summit of this kind in Canada. She also introduced new IEEE awards and grants to support WIE leadership in sections and nominated her peers for the IEEE WIE awards to recognize their achievements. In her commitment to promoting women in STEM, Elena does not restrict herself only to the IEEE activities. She engages in a diverse range of outreach programs to the general community, throughwhich she promotes engineering to the public and advocates for the important role of women in this field.”
Honorable Mentions
- Juhaina Bilal Eljuhani (R8, Jordan Section) – Honorable Mention
- Feryel Ksiksi (R8, Tunisia Section) – Honorable Mention
Elena Uchiteleva, IEEE WIE London AG (R7)
Throughout the past several years, Elena has substantially and consistently contributed to the expansion of the IEEE WIE in the R7. She tirelessly worked on organizing multiple local- and regional-level activities, which promoted women in STEM, increased visibility of WIE in Canada, and grew WIE membership base. Elena built teams of volunteers to facilitate proper administration of growing WIE activity in London Section and in R7.She has also approached every Canadian IEEE Section without active WIE engagement to encourage and help them start WIE groups or invigorate the dormant ones. In addition, she set a personal example of a strong and vibrant leader for the WIE Canada Chairs to follow. Despite her busy schedule as a doctoral student, Elena enthusiastically takes on leadership of large IEEE WIE events in her Region.
For example, she has organized the WIE Canada Congress in 2016, and in the beginning of 2018, she took on a journey of initiating and co-Chairing one of the most prominent events in the IEEE Canada WIE – the WIE ILS Toronto’18. This is the first Summit of this kind in Canada. She also introduced new IEEE awards and grants to support WIE leadership in sections and nominated her peers for the IEEE WIE awards to recognize their achievements. In her commitment to promoting women in STEM, Elena does not restrict herself only to the IEEE activities. She engages in a diverse range of outreach programs to the general community, throughwhich she promotes engineering to the public and advocates for the important role of women in this field.
Honorable Mentions
- Chirra Akanksha, Goud IEEE WIE Hyderabad AG
- R Ankayarkanni, IEEE WIE Madras AG
- Mayssa Mannai, IEEE WIE Tunisia AG
- Winner: Abir Chermiti (IEEE WIE Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology of Sousse – ISSAT Sousse SBAG)
- Honorable Mention: Alise Wang (IEEE WIE University of Ottawa SBAG)
- Honorable Mention: Samhitha B N (IEEE WIE University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering SBAG)
