Mike Tomasini as a train engineer for Siemens in Berlin.

Excellence in Internationalization

April 17, 2006 - The UW International Undergraduate Student Award for Excellence in Internationalization has been awarded to Michael Tomasini. This award is given to the student who promotes excellence in international study opportunities.

Michael Tomasini joined UW in 2003, just after the International Engineering Program (IEP) in the College of Engineering started. Although there have been many students with study abroad experiences in the past, he was the first to participate in and complete the three primary elements of the new program: foreign language skills development, study abroad at one of UW’s partner universities, and international internship.

During his first semester at UW, Tomasini founded the International Engineering Club (IEC). In his own words as author of the club’s constitution, the purpose of the club is “the promotion and exploration of international opportunities for students in the College of Engineering.” In addition the club was “founded to foster and encourage study and internships abroad as well as increased interaction with exchange students at the University of Wyoming.” He recognized that in order to truly participate as a global citizen, we must leave our own borders as well as engage those students from abroad who study at UW. He served as the first president of the IEC and helped develop interest in internationalization through club meetings and activities with international students throughout the College.

During the 2004-2005 academic year Tomasini completed the course requirements for his BS in Civil Engineering while in Germany. He spent one semester at the Technical University of Braunschweig and followed that with a six-month internship with Siemens in Berlin. He successfully completed 18 credits of course work while abroad to finish his BS degree.

Upon his return to UW, Tomasini entered the graduate program in Civil Engineering. He serves as Vice President of the IEC and was a founding member of the UW Chapter of Engineers Without Borders.

Congratulations to Mike Tomasini on this prestigious award.