Adam El-Khishin has been chosen as Tau Beta Pi's Sophomore of the year for 1997. The award is given annually based upon academic achievement, integrity, and contribution to the WPI community. Adam is currently Co-Chair of the International Student Council and Secretary of the Muslim Student Association. He is also actively involved in several other organizations including: Alpha Phi Omega, the Science Fiction Society, the Bioclub, and Mu Sigma Delta.
Each year, the top fifty academically ranked Sophomores are invited to compete for the award by submitting a personal statement to the Award Committee. Finalists are chosen on the basis of the essays. The finalists are then interviewed to provide the Committee with a personal impression of the candidate. The winner is selected from among the finalists.
Out of thirty submitted essays this year, eight finalists were chosen. This year's other finalists were: Harish Chawla, Even Ferrell, Elizabeth Nystrom, Isaac Rutel, Paula Silva, Yu-Ping Toh, and Jennifer Wright.
Tau Beta Pi is the national engineering and science honor society. Each semester, Tau Beta Pi inducts members from the upper ranks of both the Junior and Senior classes. This year's Sophomore of the Year Award will be presented to Adam at the induction banquet later in April.