Dear Friend,
I am Mathew Varghese, 2nd year masters student at UW. Most of you already know me from my initiatives.
I am writing to share my story and express my desire to be nominated for the Vikram Jandhyala and Suja Vaidyanathan Endowed Innovation Award in Electrical and Computer Engineering. (Applications due May 1 midnight)My journey began with a passion for building electronics and software solutions to address the challenges faced by myself and those around me. This passion has since blossomed into a successful entrepreneurial career, with two startups under my belt—one offering rapid prototyping solutions and the other enhancing visibility for students across various domains.
My dedication to problem-solving truly shone during the onset of the Covid lockdowns. Hospitals were facing a severe shortage of personal protective equipment, which was crucial for the safety of nurses treating Covid patients. As a response, I utilized my self-built 3D printer from my first year of engineering to prototype face shields. In just 20 days, I produced 5,000 face shields for my local community.
Recognizing the widespread need for these shields, I took the initiative to establish a company that ultimately created over 150,000 face shields. More than just addressing the demand, this venture also provided jobs for 15 individuals during a time when blue-collar workers struggled to find employment.
My previous work has left a lasting impact, and I am confident in my ability to develop large-scale solutions. Currently, I am working on a breast cancer screening device for people in developing countries ( won 2 award at UW HIC and finalist at Dempsey (ongoing top 36/125+ applications )), aiming to bring accessible healthcare to underserved populations. I am also trying to commercialize a tool I am using to generate resume according to the job role. My goal is to positively impact 1 million people in the next five years through continued dedication to projects that align with my values.
I believe my demonstrated commitment to innovation, problem-solving, and community empowerment makes me a strong candidate for the Innovation Award. I humbly ask for your support in this nomination process, and I am grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others through entrepreneurship.
It would not take much time, the Deadline is 1st May. Please follow the instructions in the link to nominate me and help me in my journey to reach more people(for the innovation award or any other award that seems fit). Also attaching a document outlining my work before and after joining UW.
Note: you need my email ID to nominate : mathewv@uw.edu
Link to all the ECE awards : https://peden.ece.uw.edu/dept-awards/
Link to the form to nominate : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfsmcXD5iRT5KUdhf5tk9wcNaS_fqkqfLRN_wqQcqn4DHFUvg/viewform
Sincerely,
Mathew Varghese