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University Medalist Sets High Goals by Robert Sanders, Public Affairs With a maturity beyond his years, graduating senior Mekhail Anwar sketched out his life plan. First medical school, then a PhD in electrical engineering, followed by research and teaching in the area of bioMEMS, and to cap it all, a start-up biotech firm to put my ideas on the drawing board. Ambitious plans for a 20-year-old. But Anwar has the focus, talent and modesty to make them happen. Hes got these goals that, if it were anyone else, Id say, Cool it a bit! said neurobiologist Geoffrey Owen, who has supervised Anwars honors research for the past year. But Im absolutely sure Mekhail will meet his goals. Anwar received the 1998 University Medal, the campuss top honor for a graduating senior since 1871. With a GPA of 3.974, Anwar graduates on May 22 with a BS in physics. He is considering MD/PhD programs at both Harvard/MIT and UCLA. Wherever he lands, he leaves behind a string of Cal accomplishments. Using physics as a springboard, Anwar conducted research on silicon wafers at Berkeley Lab during his sophomore year, helped design memory circuits at Texas Instruments one summer, and subsequently got involved in neurobiology and developed an interest in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices two fields he hopes to merge. Anwar, as well as his 18-year-old sister Shamena, a Berkeley student
majoring in economics and statistics, seem to have inherited their
mothers spirit. But, like my mother, I always try to keep a balance with who is important in my life. And what about his Berkeley experience? Its a real center of intellectual and political discussion, as well as cultural, said Anwar, who hails from Westminster High School in Orange Co. Ive seen Jessie Jackson and Jerry Brown. I even met Al Gore at Caffe Strada. I wouldnt have chosen any other place.
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