image: Naqvi started the research when he was only a freshman. Now a junior, his research recently helped him win a Goldwater Scholarship -- an award that recognizes and encourages scholarship in the fields of engineering, mathematics and natural sciences. view more
Credit: New Jersey Institute of Technology
America is often referred to as the land of opportunity. Faizan Naqvi, of Kearny, refers to NJIT as his "university of opportunity."
NJIT gave him the opportunity, for instance, to work on solar research with Haiman Wang, PhD, a distinguished professor in the department of physics. Naqvi started the research when he was only a freshman. Now a junior, his research recently helped him win a Goldwater Scholarship – an award that recognizes and encourages scholarship in the fields of engineering, mathematics and natural sciences.
This program http://www.act.org/goldwater/yyschrel.html honoring Senator Barry M. Goldwater was designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering. The Goldwater Scholarship is the premier undergraduate award of its type in these fields.
Naqvi is grateful to NJIT for that research opportunity. And he's grateful to NJIT Distinguished Professor Gene M. Jonakait, who helped refine his application.
Some other NJIT opportunities afforded to Naqvi include a scholarship from the Albert Dorman Honors College at NJIT, which gave him the opportunity to focus on his studies; the presidency of the Rotaract Club, which gave him a chance to do community service and induction into Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society. Through the BS/MS program in electrical engineering, he's been able to take graduate-level courses while still an undergraduate.
"I left my homeland, Pakistan, to attend NJIT," said Naqvi. "My two older brothers also attended NJIT. They loved it here and so do I."
Naqvi's brothers, Mohammad and Salman, not only attended NJIT but also excelled. Both graduated with awards and honors plus received Goldwater Scholarships. The Naqvi brothers are a brilliant triumvirate -- the only three brothers ever to have won Goldwater Scholarships. All three majored in electrical engineering.
Mohammad, who graduated in 2009, works now as an electronics engineer for Lockheed Martin's Space Systems Company, where he focuses on antenna design and testing. He's also enrolled in a master's degree program in engineering management at Columbia University.
Salman graduated in 2010 and is enrolled in a master's degree program in electrical engineering at Stanford University, where he researches the effects of the earth's atmosphere on wireless communication.
The three brothers are close -- they roomed together while at NJIT -- and ever since they were boys growing up in Pakistan have always helped each other with schoolwork. All three attended a Pakistani high school affiliated with Cambridge University. Then all three came to NJIT.
"My brothers and I are humbled by each winning Goldwater awards," says Naqvi. "During open houses I talk to high school students who are considering applying to NJIT. And I always tell them this: 'NJIT is the university of opportunity. It will offer you so many opportunities. All you have to do is take advantage of them.'"
The Goldwater Foundation is a federally-endowed agency established by Public Law 99-661 on November 14, 1986. Since its first award in 1989, the Foundation has bestowed over 6,600 scholarships worth approximately $50 million. The Trustees plan to award about three hundred scholarships for the 2012-2013 academic year.
NJIT, New Jersey's science and technology university, enrolls more than 8,900 students pursuing bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in 120 programs. The university consists of six colleges: Newark College of Engineering, College of Architecture and Design, College of Science and Liberal Arts, School of Management, College of Computing Sciences and Albert Dorman Honors College. U.S. News & World Report's 2010 Annual Guide to America's Best Colleges ranked NJIT in the top tier of national research universities. NJIT is internationally recognized for being at the edge in knowledge in architecture, applied mathematics, wireless communications and networking, solar physics, advanced engineered particulate materials, nanotechnology, neural engineering and e-learning. Many courses and certificate programs, as well as graduate degrees, are available online through the Office of Continuing Professional Education.