Yanes Named 2013-2014 Philip Merrill Presidential Scholar

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Department of Aerospace Engineering student Nelson Yanes

Department of Aerospace Engineering student Nelson Yanes was named a 2013-2014 Philip Merrill Presidential Scholar. This program honors the University of Maryland’s most successful seniors and the designated University faculty and K-12 teachers who mentored them.

Yanes was selected based on his academic excellence and research accomplishments as well as his strong commitment to mentoring high school students. As part of his nomination, Yanes named his honors Chemistry teacher at Northwestern High School in Hyattsville, MD, Joe Magdelinskas, as being a positive influence and tremendous role model. Yanes also named his Department of Aerospace Engineering professor and research advisor, Dr. Christopher Cadou, as his faculty mentor. He credits Cadou for inspiring his love of research and expressed admiration for Cadou's dedication to his students.  Scholars and their mentors are honored in a ceremony to highlight academic excellence, teaching and mentoring.  Scholarships are awarded in the K-12 teacher’s name to a new first year student from that teacher’s school district. 

Yanes is a member of the Aerospace Honors Program, University Honors Program and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.  He currently works with Cadou in the Propulsion Laboratory conducting research on the combustion losses of two-stroke engines. Yanes is also a volunteer with Precollege Programs, and every Saturday he teaches Mathematics and Physics to students around the Washington Metropolitan region.

For more information on the Philip Merrill Presidential Scholar's Program, visit their website.  

Published October 15, 2013