Outstanding Junior and Senior Named at Honors Convocation

MELBOURNE, FLA.—At Florida Institute of Technology’s annual Honors Convocation, Bianca Prohaska of Grosse Pointe, Mich., was named Outstanding Junior and Kevin Shah of Kolkata, India, was named Outstanding Senior. They were chosen by a faculty committee from among the Outstanding Junior and Senior awardees within each academic area.

Prohaska, from Grosse Pointe Park, Mich., is working on a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences with an emphasis in marine biology. This summer she is volunteering for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/ National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA/NMFS) Mississippi Laboratories Bottom Longline Project.

At Florida Tech she works in fish biology and is participating in a research project that involves seining, sorting, counting and identifying larval fish from the Gulf Stream and the St. Johns River. A member of the Order of Omega Greek Honors Society, she was vice president 2008-2009; as a member of the Tri-Beta biological honors society, she is currently president and was vice president 2008-2009. For Tri-Beta she has hosted guest speakers, led lectures, and planned ecological camping and snorkeling trips.

In spring 2009 Prohaska also earned a Distinguished Scholar Award, a John and Martha Hartley Scholarship and was nominated for a Kerry Clark Scholarship for Marine Biology.

In high school, she was treasurer of the Key Club, a member of the National Honor Society and a volunteer at St. John’s hospital. With the Key Club, she volunteered in projects to help Hurricane Katrina victims, in environmental cleanups and organized holiday parties for children with cerebral palsy.

Shah, who earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering, plans to work in his career field and later pursue an M.B.A. degree.
He developed an impressive resume while at Florida Tech, taking on leadership roles and earning awards. Shah was president of the student government association, 2008-2009; was named Student Leader of the Year, 2007-2008; earned the Florida Tech Lifetime Achievement Award, 2009, and the Student Leader of the Year Award, 2008; and was the Gold Award winner for civic and campus service, 2008-2009, logging more than 250 hours of service. He was also named the Outstanding Sophomore and Outstanding Junior for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Shah was event manager for the FIRST (Foundation for the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) LEGO League state finals robotics competition for three consecutive years. He also originated and hosted the campus television talk show, “Koffee with Kevin,” 2008-2009.

PHOTOS: Top-Bianca Prohaska with her Outstanding Junior Award. Bottom-Kevin Shah accepts his Outstanding Senior Award from President Dr. Anthony J. Catanese.