White House to honor UP engineering grad

 A Filipino-American professor and University of the Philippines graduate will receive an award from United States President Barack Obama, the news site "Filipino Reporter" said. In its report on Friday (US time), the "Filipino Reporter" said Amelito G. Enriquez, Ph.D., an engineering and mathematics professor at Cañada College in Redwood City in California, will receive the award at a White House ceremony on December 11-13. Enriquez, 48, along with eight individuals and eight organizations, will receive the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring. The recipients will receive $25,000 from the National Science Foundation. “Through their commitment to education and innovation, these individuals and organizations are playing a crucial role in the development of our 21st century workforce,” Obama said in a White House statement. “Our nation owes them a debt of gratitude for helping ensure that America remains the global leader in science and engineering for years to come,” he said. Enriquez graduated from the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, Quezon City with a degree in geodetic engineering. He taught at UP for over three years before moving to the United States to earn a master’s degree in geodetic science at Ohio State University. He later applied to a doctorate program in mechanical engineering at the University of California, Irvine. "The Filipino Reporter" said Enriquez attracted more than $10 million in state and federal grants to the Redwood City community college over the past three years. He also developed a series of programs designed to help underprivileged and minority students achieve success in science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs, the report said. - VVP, GMA News