MADISON, Wis. – A University of Wisconsin-Madison engineering graduate has been named the recipient of this year’s Alliant Energy/Erroll B. Davis Jr. Achievement Award, recognizing outstanding scholarship and community service.
Solomon Adenle, who received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in December 2009, will be presented with the award and $1,000 on Feb. 5, 2010, in Madison.
Adenle served for two years as the First Vice President of the National Society of Black Engineers. He also started the Diversity Spring Welcome event at the College of Engineering to welcome underrepresented students to campus. Adenle has interned at the headquarters of both General Electric and British Petroleum. Originally from Nigeria, Adenle has a long-term dream of starting a non-profit organization dedicated to research and development of solutions to energy shortage issues in African countries.
Award presenters include UW System President Kevin P. Reilly, UW System Senior Vice President Rebecca Martin, and Barbara Swan, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer for Alliant Energy.
“Solomon’s commitment and contributions show what one student can do to make the UW experience richer both for himself and others. Students like Solomon are an inspiration to all of us who urge our young people to put their talents to use to improve the society they will soon lead,” Reilly said.
The award is made possible by the Alliant Energy Foundation, which established an endowment in 2007 in honor of former Alliant Energy CEO Erroll B. Davis Jr. Recipients of the award represent undergraduate students from traditionally underrepresented minority groups pursuing degrees in Engineering or Business, two degrees held by Davis, who now serves as Chancellor for the University of Georgia System. Recipients must be enrolled at either UW-Madison or UW-Platteville, campuses in regions of the state where Alliant Energy provides energy services.