Major General Bolden, chief executive officer of JackandPanther LLC, a military and aerospace consulting firm, served in the United States Marine Corps for 34 years and flew four space missions as a space shuttle pilot astronaut for NASA.  Major General Bolden came to Rice in person to present the award on behalf of the AFCEA Educational Foundation.  The presentation took place in Duncan Hall with Computer Science Chair Keith Cooper and Computer Science Lecturer Dung “Zung” Nguyen, who recommended Li for the award, in attendance.

Left to Right: Computer Science Lecturer Dung "Zung" Nguyen; Major General Charles F. Bolden, Jr; Master's Student Jingyi Li; Computer Science Department Chair Keith Cooper

“I think the importance of this award is that we’re able to recognize Jingyi Li not only for her past performance, but for her future potential,” said Major General Bolden.  “And at the same time this award allows AFCEA to complete their mission to support students in technological fields.”

The AFCEA Educational Foundation awards the Ralph W. Shrader Diversity Scholarship annually to talented individuals pursuing a Master’s Degree in communications or electronics disciplines.  At least one award each year is granted to a qualified woman or minority candidate. 

“I am so pleased to have been chosen for this scholarship,” said Li.  “It is a great honor.”

Li added, “Since I am paying for my own education, it is a timely boon both financially and academically, since I will have more time to concentrate on my studies.”

Li, who completed her undergraduate studies at Rice in January, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in Mathematics, expects to complete her Master’s work in May.  Li has earned a number of scholarships and distinctions as a Rice student.

“I attribute her success to her intelligence, her work ethic, her mathematical skill, and her love for the art of programming,” said Nguyen, who taught Li in COMP 212—Introduction to the Principles of Object-Oriented Programming.  “The thing that impresses me most is that she never seems to stop learning, and she just keeps getting better and better.”

When asked how a Master’s degree in Computer Science fits into her future plans, Li replied: “I think that a basic understanding of computer science is a necessity given the pace of technological change today. Computers and its applications will be prevalent in every enterprise, if they are not already.”

Li ultimately plans to work as a program manager for a large defense company, overseeing national security related projects.

“I have worked for Lockheed Martin for the past two summers,” said Li, “and I feel that national defense is one industry which cannot and should not ever be outsourced.”

The award is named for Dr. Ralph W. Shrader, chairman and chief executive officer of Booz Allen Hamilton, in recognition of his efforts to increase opportunities for women and minorities in the communications and electronics fields.  Shrader was elected AFCEA chairman of the board for two separate terms.  Since it was first awarded in 1999, 31 students have received the Ralph W. Shrader Diversity Scholarship.