May 23, 2008

Contact: Amy Hewes
College of Engineering
805-756-6402
ahewes@calpoly.edu

Cal Poly Students Win National Award for Design of a Device to Aid Disabled Workers

Mechanical engineering students Paula Gijon and Chittayong (Jao) Surakitbanharn won the NISH National Scholar Award, which recognizes the design of devices to improve access to the workplace for persons with disabilities.

The students designed and built a device to help persons roll silverware into napkins for restaurants. The first place award comes with $10,000 prize for the students and $10,000 matching grant to the Cal Poly Mechanical Engineering Department. 

The National Scholar Award for Workplace Innovation & Design was founded by NISH to encourage the development of creative technological solutions for barriers that prevent people with disabilities from entering or advancing in the workplace. The National Scholar Award is open to any college student or student team at the graduate or undergraduate level. 

The National Scholar Award program is a great service learning opportunity for engineering, computer science, industrial design, physical therapy and occupational therapy students. NISH is a national nonprofit agency whose mission is to create employment opportunities for people with severe disabilities by securing Federal contracts through the AbilityOne Program, formerly Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD), for its network of community-based, nonprofit agencies.  # # #