Campus Connection

Award provides support for student’s robotics research dreams

Zackory Erickson is helping build a better future — by building better robots. The UWL alumnus started a robotics doctoral program at Georgia Tech in fall 2016 where he is interested in learning more about designing robots to intelligently collaborate with and assist humans. His current research looks at helping robots comprehend what humans physically feel during robotic assistance. UWL opened up opportunities for not only robotics research on campus, but also connections to research opportunities at universities around the nation during his undergraduate years, including the University of California, Berkeley and Georgia Tech. At UC Berkeley, he researched ways to improve security for wearable devices like Google Glass. At the Georgia Tech Healthcare Robotics Lab, he helped improve the safety and feasibility of robotic systems that provide feeding assistance to mobility-impaired people. Erickson, who graduated in spring 2016, worked with UWL Assistant Professor Allison Sauppé on a project to design low-cost robots that can be efficiently built and used within educational and learning environments. During his four years at UWL, he was also able to share his passion for science with others as a computer science tutor, in a computer science outreach and diversity organization, and as a mentor for FIRST Robotics teams. That opportunity allowed him to help local high school students learn about engineering, robotics and computer science. Following graduate school, Erickson aims to become a university professor and advance the fields of robotics and machine learning. He thanks UWL for his education and the scholarship that supported his journey. “I hope that one day soon, I will be able to give back to students, just as you have done for me,” Erickson writes in a scholarship letter to donors. He also hopes to give back to future generations of students by sharing his passion for robotics and science through STEM outreach. “I want to help others learn — something I love doing,” he says. About the Strzelczyk Award The Strzelczyk Award in Science and Health recognizes an outstanding senior in the College of Science and Health for academic achievement and service to the campus and community. Robert, a 1954 graduate, and Judy Strzelczyk endowed the award in 1996. Also, they have provided funding for physical therapy research projects, research equipment, student loans and four full-time tuition scholarships. Recipients receive $1,000.