University of Oklahoma Scholar Awarded Astronaut Scholarship

Posted by on Friday, March 9, 2012 20:00 - 0 Comments

From left: Engineering Dean Tom Landers, Director of ECE Jim Sluss, Bradley Pirtle and Astronaut Charlie Duke.

Bradley Pirtle, a McNair Scholar and senior majoring in computer engineering major at the University of Oklahoma (OU) was awarded a $10,000 scholarship from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. He is a continuing scholar, competing his second year in the Ronald E. McNair Scholar Program at OU and will graduate in May 2012.  Pirtle’s current research interest is in artificial intelligence with a focus on data mining.  He also tutors students in Calculus and enjoys sharpening his culinary skills in his spare time.

The Astronaut Scholarship is the largest monetary award given in the United States to science and engineering undergraduate students based solely on merit. Twenty-six of these prestigious awards were dispersed this year through the ASF to outstanding college students majoring in science, technology, engineering or math. More than $3 million has been awarded in scholarships to date.  These high-achieving students exhibit strong drive and phenomenal performance in their field, as well as intellectual daring and a genuine desire to positively change the world around them, both in and out of the classroom.

After graduation, Bradley plans to pursue a Ph.D. in computer science, with the hope of being employed by a government agency or laboratory where his work will ultimately better humankind.

From left: Engineering Dean Tom Landers, Director of ECE Jim Sluss, Bradley Pirtle and Astronaut Charlie Duke.

– Original press release posted by University of Oklahoma College of Engineering on September 22, 2011.





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