MINNEAPOLIS, MN – The SMTA is accepting applications through April 15 for its $5,000 Hutchins Educational Grant. Established in memory of past SMTA president Dr. Charles Hutchins and co-sponsored by Circuits Assembly, the annual award goes to a graduate-level student doing research in electronic assembly or electronics packaging.
 
Students can download and submit the entry form (available at smta.org/hutchins/hutchins.cfm), along with current academic transcripts, a letter of recommendation, a resume and a one-page thesis research abstract.
 
Presented annually at the SMTA International Conference, the grant is intended for the purchase of technical books and research materials, participation in electronics conferences and for living expenses if necessary.
 
The 2005 recipient was Leila Jannesari Ladani, a graduate student in mechanical engineering at the University of Maryland, for her project: "Effect of Voids Caused By Manufacturing Variation on the Thermo-mechanical Durability of Sn3.8Ag0.7Cu Solders."