Unstoppable Campaign

Engineered for Success

By Ann Carney | USF News

As a graduate electrical engineering major at USF, Catherine (Boosales) Chandler ('03) had the opportunity to work on Agilent Advanced Design System (ADS) software, one of the only design automation software programs at the time that could simulate the radio frequency (RF) world.

Now hundreds of USF engineering students will have that same opportunity — an opportunity that could mean a major edge in the job market, and could position USF's College of Engineering among the top schools in the nation.

In September, California-based Agilent Technologies gave the university its largest ever in-kind donation — $25.9 million in electronic design automation software for engineering students. The gift, made to the USF: Unstoppable Campaign, put the campaign over its half-billion dollar mark.

"As the largest in-kind donation in the university's history, Agilent's gift speaks volumes about the tremendous growth of both USF and the College of Engineering," says Joel D. Momberg, senior vice president for Advancement and CEO of the USF Foundation.

"We couldn't be more thrilled for the college and the hundreds of students who stand to benefit today and well into the future."

ADS software allows users to simulate designs to determine whether or not the schematics would work before building a prototype. It is the same software electrical engineering professionals use to accelerate the process of turning ideas into products.

Chandler, who graduated from USF with bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering, says having that experience made her more marketable. "It made my education feel more valuable because I felt like I was learning something I could translate into a job after I graduated." Since graduation, Chandler has held positions as a systems engineer for Raytheon Company, and a product engineer for RF Micro Devices, Inc. and TriQuint Semiconductor.

Now TriQuint's college program manager, Chandler says "A student's exposure to design software is definitely one of the things we look for. It is absolutely a plus, particularly in a world where you are looking for a candidate with RF experience — that's not real widespread."

USF has a long-standing relationship with Agilent. This most recent gift marks the third consecutive year that the company has supported the College of Engineering.

"Agilent takes an active role in supporting the development of the next generation of engineers," says Mark Pierpoint, vice president and general manager for Agilent's Software and Modular Solutions division. "Our donation recognizes USF's commitment to enable every student in their program to successfully compete in the global market."

According to USF College of Engineering Dean John M. Wiencek, every student who graduates from the electrical engineering program will have hands-on experience with ADS, a fact that strengthens the value of their degree.

"This training and experience gives our students a skill set and familiarity with an industry-leading software, which will give them an edge in the job market. From an employer's standpoint, it will eliminate a six-month training period."