RALEIGH, N.C. – The Triangle Technology Executives Council (http://www.ncttec.net), a nonprofit organization dedicated to continuous education and economic development of technology companies in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina, has announced James Turner of Middle Creek High School in Apex as its 2011 Innovation Scholarship recipient. The scholarship is awarded to students with the most innovative solutions in the software and information technology fields.Turner’s winning Innovation Scholarship entry focuses on two software programs that analyze the data taken from lab animal research in useful form.
The software would allow scientists to quantify the effects of the chemicals on animals measured by microelectrode array findings. Turner presented his findings at the 2011 Society of Toxicology Meeting in Washington, D.C. “James Turner is most deserving of our Innovation Scholarship,” said John Crites, president and CEO of TTEC. “James is a brilliant young man, and his research and ideas have broadened the horizons of science and technology as we know it today.”
Turner plans to major in mechanical engineering with a minor in Spanish. He completed a research internship in 2010 at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Neurotoxicology Lab at Research Triangle Park. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recently announced that Turner was selected as a U.S. Presidential Scholar, one of the highest honors for high school students in the nation. In his spare time, Turner volunteer tutors students in English as a Second Language (ESL) and other coursework in all subjects. Turner started a math tutoring center at Middle Creek High School. He also founded and managed the nonprofit program Heartbeats for Kids for five years to raise funds for the North Carolina Children’s Hospital. Turner is actively involved with the Shelton Leadership Center at N.C. State University as a coach, mentor, trainer and planning committee member for the Shelton Challenge leadership training program. For the past year, Turner has served as a member of the Raleigh Colleges and Community Collaborative, a group of government, education, and business leaders who are working to secure funding and develop programs to improve post-secondary graduation rates of low-income youth.
ABOUT THE TRIANGLE TECHNOLOGY EXECUTIVES COUNCIL:
The Triangle Technology Executives Council (TTEC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the economic development of technology companies in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina through the collaboration among leaders in the management community. The council resources are primarily volunteers comprised of executive technology leadership in this region. TTEC sponsors who share the commitment for economic development in the area provide additional resources. The organization also partners with local universities and the Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) to extend shared expertise to aspiring students and technology ventures. For more information please visit http://www.ncttec.net.
