AUSTIN, TX -- In honor of its 25th anniversary, TechSearch International and the IEEE Women in Engineering Committee have established a scholarship for women entering the field of engineering.

The scholarship, named the IEEE Frances B. Hugle Engineering Scholarship, honors the memory of serial inventor and company founder Frances Hugle.

Hugle graduated from the University of Chicago in 1946 with degrees in chemistry, physics, and philosophy and received her master's from the University of Cincinnati. She co-founded Hugle Industries, Siliconix, Stewart Warner Microcircuits and Opto-Electronics Devices. In each of these companies she served as a director of R&D and chief engineer. She held 16 known patents in the field of electronics and was one of the pioneers in the invention of tape automated bonding (TAB).

To encourage young women to follow in Hugle’s footsteps, IEEE WIE will select one scholar annually to receive a $2,500 scholarship, beginning as early as 2013.  The scholarship will be presented to one female in her third year of undergraduate study in an engineering curriculum at an accredited university or college in the United States. Student membership in the IEEE is required.

TechSearch and its founder, E. Jan Vardaman, seeded the scholarship with a $5,000 donation this year. The objective is to raise $100,000 during the next few years.  We hope that others will join us in supporting young women entering the field of engineering by making a donation.

The IEEE Foundation, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization in the US, is accepting and managing the donations.  Donations can be made:

1. Online at www.ieee.org/donate by selecting the Frances B. Hugle Memorial Fund
2. By check payable to the IEEE Foundation – Frances B. Hugle Memorial Fund and mailed to IEEE Foundation, 445 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.

To learn more about the IEEE Foundation, visit ieeefoundation.org, call the IEEE Development Office at +1 732-562-3915 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  For more information on IEEE WIE, visit www.ieee.org/women.