• XCEL STUDENT OF THE YEAR 2009 winners
• XCEL STUDENT OF THE YEAR 2008 winners

Xcel Magazines - Current and past issues

Wasiu Popoola

Northumbria University

PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering

 

WINNER OF

Xcel Engineering and Technology
Student of the Year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Originally from Nigeria, Wasiu obtained a first class undergraduate degree, followed by a Masters with Distinction. He then went on to complete his PhD research in record time with no correction. One of Wasiu’s papers published by the Institute of Engineering Technology (IET) was judged the second most downloaded paper of its type from the IEEE Xplore data base, since 1980.

Besides what are obviously brilliant academic achievements, Wasiu has also found time to be a research students’ representative for over two years; as well as involving himself in the university’s programme for welcoming international students at the airport and beyond.

He is described by his university as an outstanding person as well as student, an original thinker, a team player, dynamic and hard working. In short, “by far one of our best students in the last ten years.”

Wasiu said:

I feel elated to have won this fantastic award and have my achievements recognised nationally. It comes with an absolute satisfaction whose measure is unquantifiable. There couldn’t have been a better way to start a new year.”

“This awards means so much to me, it means hard work never goes unrewarded. It means those late night candles have not been burnt without notice and it serves as an impetus for me to be the very best I can ever be,” he added.

The achievements of this individual need no further praise, just the acknowledgment that they so obviously merit.”

Paul Weller, chair of judging, Xcel awards scheme.