The Boeing Company and publisher Flightglobal today at the Farnborough Airshow named two students 2012 Engineering Students of the Year. Yayu Monica Hew of the University of Texas at Arlington received the undergraduate-level award and Jianying Tracy Ji, Ph.D. candidate at Washington State University, is the graduate-level winner.

This is the first year Boeing and Flightglobal selected winning students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in the Engineering Student of the Year Award (ESOYA) competition.

Hew is entering her senior year at the University of Texas at Arlington where she is majoring in aerospace engineering and physics. As an undergraduate research assistant, she has been developing, building and testing ultra-low-power wireless strain sensors for use in monitoring the integrity and health of remote structures, including airplanes and other aircraft. The sensors use a small photo cell to power the strain gage and data transmission system, enabling placement anywhere on a vehicle without the need for additional wiring. As this technology matures, it will encourage the installation of remote monitoring of stationary and moving structures and provide more accurate measures of structural integrity over time, leading to improved safety and life spans for various structures.

In pursuing her Ph.D. at Washington State University in materials science and engineering, Ji has conducted research on advanced rechargeable lithium battery materials. She made significant achievements in creating a new electrolyte with ultra flexibility and high conductivity based on a natural plant protein. Ji's research focused on innovative manufacturing methods and performance validation testing of soy protein combined with more traditional electrolyte materials, producing a material with high strength and unprecedented flexibility that is also environmentally responsible in production and disposal. This soy-based material has strong potential for wide application in next-generation electronics used in aerospace and in many other sectors.

Boeing has partnered with Flightglobal to host the worldwide ESOYA competition since 2005 to encourage students to pursue careers in aerospace-related engineering fields. The competition is open to any full- or part-time engineering student pursuing a recognized degree at the undergraduate or graduate levels. The winning students' work must be judged as likely to impact the future of aerospace engineering in areas such as new or enhanced capabilities, systems, processes or tools; new levels of performance; and improved life cycle costs.

Boeing's role in the ESOYA competition is one of the many ways the company supports efforts that encourage students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.

"These two individuals have demonstrated the achievements that are possible when students and professionals are committed to pursuing a career in science, technology and mathematics," said John Tracy, Boeing chief technology officer and senior vice president of Engineering, Operations & Technology. "They are off to a great start in making a difference through a career in engineering. In addition, they are role models for others pursuing this critically important and personally rewarding field."

Boeing is the world's largest aerospace company and leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners and defense, space and security systems. A top U.S. exporter, the company supports airlines and U.S. and allied government customers in 150 countries. With corporate offices in Chicago, Boeing employs more than 173,000 people across the United States and in 70 countries, representing one of the most diverse, talented and innovative workforces anywhere.

Contributed by Boeing