A new student scholarship out of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering not only benefits computer engineering students, but also recognizes longtime faculty member, Krishna Kavi.

Associate Professor Robert Akl created the endowed scholarship in recognition of Kavi, a University Regents Professor, to honor and recognize Kavi's ongoing mentorship since hiring Akl in 2002.

Kavi joined UNT as chair of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering in 2001 and was later recognized as a UNT regents professor in 2019 for his outstanding contributions to research and education. He also served as the director of the NSF Net-Centric Industry/University Cooperative Research Center from 2009-2021.

"This newly endowed scholarship demonstrates the strength of our computer science and engineering faculty, as well as the desire to support our students as they strive for their potential," said Stephanie Ludi, interim chair of the department. "This special scholarship will help computer engineering students for years to come and symbolize the special bond that exists among faculty in our department."

The Kavi and Friends Computer Engineering Scholarship will provide need-based scholarships for computer engineering students studying the design and construction of hardware at UNT. Applications for the scholarship will open spring 2022, and serve current full-time computer engineering sophomores and juniors who are in good standing and have demonstrated involvement in a minority-serving student chapter or a related computer science and engineering society.

"I am very proud of the collegiality and friendship among our faculty within the college," said College of Engineering Dean Hanchen Huang. "It's a touching story that illustrates the mission and values we hold so strongly at the university."