SAS again honors student researchers at annual user conference

2009 SAS Student Ambassadors demonstrate SAS’ strong global connection to academia

SAS GLOBAL FORUM, WASHINGTON - Nine student researchers will be honored next week at SAS® Global Forum, attended by more than 3,000 business and IT users of SAS software and solutions. SAS, the leader in business analytics, will recognize its 2009 Student Ambassadors for using SAS technologies in innovative ways to benefit their respective industries and fields of study. Representing nine universities in four countries, the ambassadors will present their research at the conference.

"Our growing Student Ambassador competition clearly demonstrates our devotion to supporting research, teaching and administration using SAS at colleges and universities worldwide,” said Herbert Kirk, Vice President of SAS Education.

The year’s honorees are:

* India: Atul Goel, MBA specializing in business analytics, IBS Ahmedabad.
* Singapore: Teck Kiang Tan, doctoral candidate, education, Nanyang Technological University.
* South Korea : Won-Seok Woo, undergraduate in economics and statistics, Korea University.
* US: Christofer Helwig, PhD candidate, computer science, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Lida Gharibvand, PhD candidate, applied statistics, University of California-Riverside; Ashok Chaurasia, PhD candidate, statistics (survival analysis and time series analysis), University of Connecticut; Xiao Wang, PhD candidate, industrial and applied mathematics (emphasis in data mining), University of Louisville; Lisa Mendez, PhD candidate, organizational leadership (research focus), University of the Incarnate Word-San Antonio; and Elisa Priest, DrPH candidate, epidemiology, University of North Texas.

Kirk continued: "With the global economic downturn, many organizations are searching for innovative business solutions. By presenting their research and specific applications of business analytics, these students could benefit thousands of SAS customers who work in related fields. Though still students, they truly have the opportunity to make a difference.”

The SAS Student Ambassadors, who receive complimentary travel and registration, value the unique opportunity to network with SAS Global Forum attendees. “I am very happy to have been chosen for the second time from among so many highly talented applicants to present my paper at SAS Global Forum 2009,” said Gharibvand. “I am looking forward to receiving constructive feedback and expert opinions on my paper, as well as meeting new SAS users from around the world and learning about their creative ideas.”

With more than 2,000 college, university and business school customers in 109 countries and dedicated education specialists on every continent, SAS offers numerous programs to help universities worldwide incorporate SAS into their academic programs and curricula. For more information, visit the SAS Global Academic Program Web site.

SAS is the leader in business analytics software and services, and the largest independent vendor in the business intelligence market. Through innovative solutions delivered within an integrated framework, SAS helps customers at more than 45,000 sites improve performance and deliver value by making better decisions faster. Since 1976 SAS has been giving customers around the world The Power to Know®