February 13, 2003
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February 13, 2003 |
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Approximately 500 college students from U.S. four-year colleges and universities were nominated for this prestigious honor. Lukens was the only Indiana resident to make either the first (20 students) or second team (another 20 students) this year. Lukens, a 1999 graduate of Terre Haute South High School, received high marks for her academic credentials (3.8 grade point average) and involvement in a wide range of educational and community activities. "It's obvious that Rachel is a highly motivated student at an outstanding engineering college. She is very broadly educated and a well-rounded person," stated All-USA College Academic Team Coordinator Tracey Wong Briggs. While working at Rose-Hulman's technology-based product development center, Rose-Hulman Ventures, Lukens played a significant role in the development of a new breast cancer biopsy Automated Tissue Excision and Collection (ATEC) device for Suros Surgical Systems of Indianapolis. ATEC, which makes biopsy much faster and less painful, earned FDA approval in March 2002, and is currently being used by physicians in 14 cities including Indianapolis, Atlanta and Miami. In his letter of recommendation, Suros President and Chief Executive Office Jim Pearson stated: "By taking the initiative to write this one-of-a-kind software, Ms. Lukens offered Suros a way to guarantee that the ATEC disposable handpiece met stringent performance criteria. Not only is this vital for the success of Suros and its product line, but also for the thousands of breast surgeons, radiologists and woman across the country who put their trust and confidence in the quality and reliability of the ATEC system." In her supporting essay on the project, Lukens stated: "As a young woman, I was especially interested in this device and its impact to the hundreds of thousands of women every year who require a breast biopsy . . . ATEC technology will mean that these women will not need surgery and can resume normal activity shortly after the biopsy." Each year in the United States, about 1.2 million women undergo a breast biopsy after finding a suspicious lump. Lukens has also designed electrical products for two other Rose-Hulman Ventures clients: Camile Products and Home Data Source, both of Indianapolis. On campus, Lukens is editor-in-chief of Rose-Hulman's award-winning weekly student newspaper, The Thorn, managing a staff of 15 non-journalism students; served as president of the Spanish Club, planning and promoting club activities; and been an active member and officer of the Delta Delta Delta sorority, serving as vice president of finance for the 61-member organization this year. She has also volunteered for an on-campus Habitat for Humanity house construction project, and been a member of the Tau Beta Pi national engineering honor society, Society of Women Engineers, Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers and Pi Mu Epsilon mathematics society. "Rachel has it all," states Jim Eifert, Rose-Hulman Ventures president. "She's very intelligent and a superior student with excellent 'people' and communications skills, terrific work ethic, and, perhaps most surprising for her age (21), a very competent professional. "Her work (at Ventures) has spanned environmental, pharmaceutical, surgical, and geriatric issues; to each of these endeavors she brought her technical talent, unbounded enthusiasm, and creative energy," Eifert stated. Lukens plans to work for Xetron Corp., a Cincinnati, Ohio-based company that specializes in custom communication systems. She will perform digital hardware design. Other colleges having All-USA College Academic Team first- or second-team selections included Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Stanford University, Yale University, Dartmouth College, Georgetown University, Penn State, Johns Hopkins University, Rice University and Case Western Reserve University.
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