Thomas Notchick Receives Skookum Award at Western New England University

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(L-R) Alumni Board of Directors Vice President Ed Lavoie, Thomas Notchick, and University President Anthony Caprio

SPRINGFIELD, MA (11/25/2013)(readMedia)-- Thomas Notchick of Plymouth, Conn., was recently named a recipient of the Skookum Award, an honor presented by Western New England University's Alumni Association. The Skookum is awarded to students who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in all their endeavors: academics, co-curricular activities, sports, and community service. "Skookum" is the Native American Chinook Indian word meaning "excellence." Notchick was one of 15 outstanding seniors receiving awards during ceremonies on the Springfield, Mass. campus.

An Electrical Engineering major at the University, Notchick has served as Student Senate's Engineering representative, as a lab assistant, a student tutor, and a freshman seminar assistant. In addition, Notchick enjoys giving back to the community having volunteered for Kids' Club, Gray House, and as a tutor for the Children's Study Home Adolescent Residential Program. He is also a member of the rugby team, which competed in a national tournament this past summer.

Notchick has utilized numerous internships to gain experience for his future as an electrical engineer. While with Northeast Utilities he visited electrical substations across Connecticut and Massachusetts, updating equipment and online diagrams. At United Technologies Aerospace Systems, he designed special test equipment for electromagnetic interference testing. At his current internship with ISO New England, he is assisting the transmission planning department with planning its future transmission needs.

Western New England University is a private, independent, coeducational institution founded in 1919. Located on an attractive 215-acre suburban campus in Springfield, Massachusetts, Western New England University serves 3,800 students, including 2,500 full-time undergraduate students. Undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs are offered through Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Engineering, and Pharmacy, and School of Law.