Rocky Hill, CT — Three outstanding young Connecticut scientists will be awarded the H. Joseph Gerber Medal of Excellence at the 40th Annual Meeting and Dinner of the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE) on May 19, 2015, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cromwell.

The award, created by the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering and presented in partnership with Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT), is in recognition of H. Joseph Gerber’s (1924-1996) technical leadership in inventing, developing and commercializing manufacturing automation systems for a wide variety of industries, making those industries more efficient and cost-effective in a worldwide competitive environment.

“The Academy is grateful to CCAT for continuing to support the H. Joseph Gerber Medal of Excellence which recognizes three of Connecticut’s top high school student scientists and engineers,” said CASE President Sandra Weller. “The Gerber Medal celebrates their remarkable achievements and honors the memory of the inventor, entrepreneur and CASE member for whom they are named.”

Mr. Gerber – Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board and President for South Windsor-based Gerber Scientific, Inc. – was a leader for nearly half a century in inventing and producing factory automation equipment designed to solve global manufacturing problems. An elected member of the National Academy of Engineering and the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering, Mr. Gerber received the National Medal of Technology in 1994 followed by the Connecticut Medal of Technology in 1995.

The recipients of this year’s H. Joseph Gerber Medal of Excellence are top winners of the 2015 Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair. They are: Olivia Hallisey (1st Place, Life Sciences – Senior Division) and Ethan Novek (1st Place, Physical Sciences – Senior Division) both of Greenwich High School; and Eunsun Hong (High School Winner – Urban School Challenge) of Bridgeport Regional Aquaculture Science and Technology Education Center.

Hallisey’s winning Science Fair project was entitled, “Temperature-Independent, Portable, and Rapid Field Detection of Ebola via a Silk-Derived Lateral-Flow System” and Novek’s award was for, “Low Grade Waste Heat Recovery and Carbon Sequestration using an Innovative Reverse Electrodialysis (RED) and Pressure Retarded Osmosis (PRO) System.” Hong won for her project, “Development of Non-toxic Photostabilized Phycoerythrin for Application in Dye Sensitized Solar Cells.”

CCAT sponsors the award as part of its goal to strengthen the quality of high school STEM education.

“Each year as we prepare to award the Gerber Medal of Excellence, I am amazed by the work of these young scientists,” said Elliot Ginsberg, CCAT’s President and Chief Executive Officer, “CCAT is proud to sponsor the Gerber Medal in recognition of their achievements and to continue encouraging innovation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics in Connecticut.”

About CCAT: The Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, Inc. (CCAT) is a nonprofit corporation that serves as a unique economic development center of excellence for the region, state and nation. www.ccat.us