Cal State L.A. Students Selected by SAE as Future Engineering Leaders

Cal State L.A. mechanical engineering majors Akilesh Vedartham (Los Angeles resident) and Gina Parodi (Torrance resident) are among only 25 students nationwide selected to participate in the first Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Leadership Development Program on January 28 and 29 in San Antonio, Texas.

This is the first of many new offerings to SAE’s younger members under the SAE Power Track, a career pathway designed to help accelerate students’ careers. The program helps students develop skills that are imperative for leaders in SAE and the mobility industries. SAE will cover the travel expense, hotel accommodations and meals for each of the elected participants.
Shanin Hart, manager of Younger Member Activities for SAE International, says, “I am excited to extend this invitation to you for participation in this inaugural program. [Cal State L.A.] Professor James Ettaro believes in your leadership potential and SAE is proud to offer this program to you as one only 25 elected student leaders.”

Parodi and Vedartham were both members of Cal State L.A.’s national award-winning supermileage vehicle team, beating 39 entries from the U.S. and Canada in the SAE international Supermileage® competition in Michigan last June. Besting cars from UC campuses to specialized technology institutes, the superbly-engineered car, called the Super Eagle, achieved a record 1,615 mpg.

Additionally, as a member of the CSULA Mac Short Paper Competition team, Vedartham was recognized for an outstanding research paper and presentation, “Advanced Small Engine Design,” at the Nissan North America Corporate Office, Gardena, in May 2004.

For more information, contact faculty advisor James Ettaro, Department of Technology, Cal State L.A., at (323) 343-4573.

Contact: Margie Yu, Public Affairs Specialist, (323) 343-3047