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CTS Student Awards

Each year, CTS presents three types of awards to transportation students. CTS solicits nominations for each, and specific directions for each are noted below.

Matthew J. Huber Award

The Matthew J. Huber Award for Excellence in Transportation Research and Education is presented annually to University of Minnesota graduate students demonstrating an outstanding contribution in research, writing, and educational activities in the field of transportation. The award is named in honor of the late Professor Emeritus Matthew J. Huber, in recognition of his long and valuable contribution to the teaching and study of transportation.

CTS selects and notifies the one or two award recipients in February. The award is presented at the Center's Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon in April. In addition to the $750 award, recipients also receive a plaque that is presented during the luncheon. Award winners also attend the Interdisciplinary Transportation Student Organization Luncheon in March to be honored for their achievements.

The $750 award is made based upon demonstration of the student's work in transportation research, writing, and other educational activities relating to transportation. Special consideration will be given to applicants who have had their work accepted for presentation at a nationally recognized conference or published in a transportation journal. Other demonstrated involvement in transportation, such as related work experience, transportation coursework completed, and involvement in professional transportation organizations, will also be considered. The award is also based upon the recommendation of a University faculty member.

All candidate applications should include a student cover letter, a description of transportation-related academic contributions such as research, published work, and conference presentations, and a written recommendation from a University faculty member.

Previous recipients

2006: Harini Veeraraghavan and Adam Zofka. Veeraraghavan is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Computer Science. Zofka is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Civil Engineering.

ITS Institute Outstanding Student of the Year

Each year, the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Institute at CTS selects one graduate student for the Outstanding Student of the Year Award sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA).

The student selected receives a $1,000 award from the ITS Institute and is presented a certificate from high ranking US DOT officials at a ceremony held in conjunction with the TRB Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., each January. The ITS Institute also reimburses (up to $1,000) the student for his/her travel to the ceremony and TRB Annual Meeting.

Selection is based upon accomplishment in three areas: technical merit and research, academic performance, and professionalism and leadership (presentations, student professional activities).

Previous recipients

2006: Shawn Brovold. Brovold is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota. His research, entitled, In-Vehicle Technology to Correct Teen Driving Behavior, focuses on recognizing behaviors such as speeding, aggressive driving, seat belt use, and driving while intoxicated and provides mechanisms to report these behaviors to parents.

Travel awards

As a part of an effort to support students in transportation, CTS and the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Institute provide funding for selected students to attend the national Transportation Research Board (TRB) annual meeting and ITS-related conferences. Students selected will each receive up to $750 for conference expenses, including travel. The monetary award is based on the actual expenses incurred by each participant, and the amount will vary among the recipients but will be no more than $750.  Upon completion of the conference, students are required to submit brief summaries of sessions they attended.

Students wishing to be considered must submit a one-page application to their sponsoring faculty member, who will then forward their nominations to CTS. All applications must be limited to one page and include the following:  name, E-mail address, major, expected graduation date, previous degrees earned, brief description of transportation engineering, policy/planning, and/or ITS-related research or thesis work, and conference papers presented and/or published.  If applicable, please highlight any ITS-related research or course work. Applications should also indicate if a student would be presenting at the conference.

Faculty will nominate students based upon the following criteria: transportation-related degrees/course work and internships completed, transportation research conducted, and transportation-related papers presented and/or published.

More information

If there is a conference that you would like to attend, please contact CTS outreach and education coordinator Stephanie Malinoff at 612-624-8398 or malinoff@umn.edu