News Release - 8 January 2008

School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

King Yit Law, a student on the electrical and electronic engineering degree at Queen’s University, has been awarded the Sir William Siemens medal for being one of the top engineering students in the UK. He was presented with his medal at a recent awards ceremony at the Company’s Headquarters in Surrey, by Mr Tom White, Chief Executive of Siemens UK. As well as the medal, Barry received a cheque for £300.

King Yit, who hails from Newry and is a past pupil of The Abbey Christian Brothers’ Grammar School there, was one of sixteen students chosen from universities across the UK to receive the prestigious Siemens medal. The criteria set for the award required an excellent academic record, together with significant involvement in industry.

King Yit was nominated for his award by Dr John Morrow, lecturer in the School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Queen’s. Dr Morrow commented that ‘King Yit is the best student on the MEng in Electrical and Electronic Engineering degree at Queen’s. He is also the recipient of a Power Academy Scholarship from Central Networks, worth over £22K, and has undertaken summer placements working for different sections with E.ON UK. During his year out in industry last year King Yit also worked with Latens in Belfast who provide software solutions for Pay-TV operators.’

The Siemens medal programme was launched in 1993 to celebrate the Company’s 150th anniversary and with the aim of raising the profile of science and technology within schools and universities. The first Sir William Siemen’s medal was in fact awarded back in 1883 by London University’s Imperial College, so the present day programme revives a tradition more than 100 years old. In keeping with tradition, the new medals are struck using the die of the original medal by the Royal Mint. On completing his degree King Yit plans to become a Chartered Engineer. There is currently a high demand for graduates in electrical and electronic engineering both locally and in the UK as a whole, with demand outstripping supply. Starting salaries for the class of 2007 graduating in this discipline from Queen’s ranged from £20K to £36K