UNH Awards Tyco Scholarship to New Ipswich Student

Jacob Aho receives full tuition to study engineering

DURHAM - The University of New Hampshire College of Engineering and Physical Sciences announced today that Jacob Aho of New Ipswich, N.H. is the winner of the 2004 Tyco Scholarship.

Established with a gift from Tyco International, the Tyco scholarship provides a "full-boat" scholarship to UNH for exceptional students in mathematics, engineering and physical sciences. A senior at Mascenic Regional High School, Aho will begin classes at UNH in the fall. Jacob is the son of Peter Aho and Bonny-Jo (Jernberg) Aho.

"UNH was one of the top choices of schools that I wanted to attend. My parents and I were thrilled when I received the Tyco scholarship," said Aho. "It is a great opportunity that I couldn't pass up. I accepted before hearing from any of the other schools that I had applied to."

Aho will be enrolled in electrical engineering. He got his first taste of engineering at the construction company where he works using computer-aided design software called AutoCAD.

Aho used his AutoCAD skills in an independent study course in which he updated several of the school district's building plans and created plans for one building from scratch. His efforts enabled the district to greatly improve its emergency management plans for the buildings. "I had the chance to help out the community with that project and show how technology can be used to make life better," said Aho. "That's what engineers do. They solve problems."

As a Tyco Scholar, Aho will be required to perform original research in collaboration with a UNH mentor and present the results at a conference. Besides tuition, he will also receive financial support for research.

Aho is not only an exceptional student, maintaining a high grade point average while participating in extracurricular activities such as student government and the National Honor Society, but is also an outstanding athlete, participating in six sports his senior year. He was selected from a field of 19 UNH applicants whose similarly impressive talents recommended them for the Tyco scholarship.

Aho and four other finalists -- Julianne Kulevich of Maynard, Mass., Andrew Niles of Concord, Trevor Sherwood of Barrington and Sara Lincoln of Litchfield - were recruited like student athletes. Over the course of a January weekend, they were able to see first hand many of the exciting student and research activities that make UNH an enticing campus for serious students.

Aho particularly liked a project that has united all of a police cruiser's electronics using voice activation software. "UNH has a very good research program and I was able to see some of the projects," said Aho. "I was really impressed with Project54 as well as other projects offered in the college."

PHOTO CAPTION
UNH Director of Admissions Robert McGann and CEPS Associate Dean Robert Henry flank Jacob Aho of New Ipswich, this year's Tyco Scholarship recipient.

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