Rocky Hill, CT — Three outstanding young Connecticut scientists will be awarded the H. Joseph Gerber Medal of Excellence at the 38th Annual Meeting and Dinner of the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE) on May 22, 2013, at Quinnipiac University’s Recreation Center in Hamden.

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 for CCAT’s continued support in recognizing Connecticut’s top student scientists and engineers with this award,” said CASE President Lou Manzione. “The Gerber Awards celebrate ten years of excellence in scientific achievement among high school students. These awards honor the memory of the inventor, entrepreneur and CASE Member for whom they are named.”

As an inventor and as founder, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board and President for South Windsor-based Gerber Scientific, Inc., Mr. Gerber 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 2013 Connecticut Science Fair winners Kaitavjeet Chowdhary (1st Place, Life Sciences – Senior Division) of Glastonbury High School and Maxmillian Minichetti (1st Place, Physical Sciences – Senior Division) of Greenwich High School; and 2013 Connecticut Science Challenge 1st place winner Annie Zhang, also of Greenwich High School.

Chowdhary’s winning Science Fair entry was entitled, “Morphogenesis of and Chromosome Segregation in Escherichia coli Branching Mutants,” and Minichetti’s award was for his project, “Optimization of a Dye CoSensitized Solar Cell to Assist Photo-Electrochemical Water-Splitting with a Nanostructured C-PC Enhanced Fe2O3 Photo-Anode.” Zhang, the winner of the Connecticut Science Challenge, won for her project, “Graphene Oxide as a Novel Biosensor in Targeted Delivery of Chemotherapy Drugs.”

The Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) sponsors the award as part of its goal to strengthen the quality of high school STEM education.

“It takes an extraordinary student to become a Gerber Medal of Excellence recipient and CCAT is proud to be a partner in recognizing the scientific achievements and leadership of these students, “ said Elliot Ginsberg, President and Chief Executive Officer, CCAT. “Their innovative projects demonstrate how an education grounded in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics impacts our lives and the continued economic growth of our state every day.”

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