Pitt’s Beta Delta Chapter Recognized for Excellence

The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers-Eta Kappa Nu (IEEE-HKN), the honor society of IEEE, has recognized the Beta Delta Chapter of the University of Pittsburgh with a 2023 – 2024 Outstanding Chapter Award. The award celebrates active honor society chapters whose work fosters community and promotes excellence.

For Steven Jacobs, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering in the Swanson School of Engineering, this recognition reflects the commitment of student leaders to develop a thriving honor society. Jacobs, who advises along with professor Amro El-Jaroudi, began supporting Beta Delta eleven years ago, after participation had decreased.

“Student organizations become successful when there are students in leadership positions who take the initiative to increase the level of activity,” said Jacobs. “And that’s what’s happened in recent years with officials like Sabrina [Helbig] and now with Jacob [Jones].”

In 2018, when she was a third-year undergraduate student, Sabrina Helbig was elected as a Beta Delta officer and has “served in about every role since.” After moving into the master’s program and now pursuing her PhD at Pitt, she continued serving as president until stepping down last year.

“It was a great experience for my development as a leader and to learn how to build community,” Helbig said, “but at first, we didn’t have much momentum. It took a few years.”

By helping to recruit other engaged officers, the honor society grew its membership and became increasingly active in the Swanson School and community. Two years ago, Helbig and fellow officers contacted the IEEE-HKN chapters at Carnegie Mellon University (Sigma) and Penn State (Epsilon), and the three organizations met at Carnegie Mellon for an interchapter event, which included a radio-frequency fox hunt. “We had the idea and took the initiative to connect with other chapters. It was the first time that it had happened.”

Last year, Pitt’s chapter continued the outreach, and Penn State’s chapter visited Pitt to tour the school, share a meal, and network with fellow engineers.

Now under the leadership of new president Jacob Jones, a graduate student in electrical and computer engineering, Pitt’s Beta Delta has again invited Penn State to visit. “It’s a chance to learn about other programs—the different curriculum and opportunities,” said Jones.

In addition to connecting chapters, Helbig and Jones have helped to increase student engagement in the Swanson School and create opportunities for students beginning in engineering to learn from upper-level and graduate students. “We’ve found,” said Jones, “that through mentorship, the first year and sophomore students have been more comfortable asking upper-level students more open-ended questions that can help them as they’re deciding which field they want to pursue.”

Beta Delta hosts tutoring and study sessions during exam time as well as informal events for students to connect—for example, this month the chapter will host a Python workshop. “We’re also developing a resource repository—a website that students can use to get extra practice in PCB design, getting ahead with simulation work and other aspects that might not be covered in coursework,” Jones said.

“This has traditionally been an undergraduate organization, but recently there has been more active involvement by graduate students,” said Jacobs. “That’s been a great new development. Anytime you can get students helping other students, it makes such a difference.”

Pitt’s Beta Delta chapter was one of only 22 chapters to receive the award. Of this recognition, Helbig said, “It’s a proud moment—it’s the second year in a row that we’ve won this award, and I don’t know if we ever got it before that. This one really shows that we’re staying active, doing something purposeful. It’s been great to watch new officers take the torch and carry it forward.”

Pitt’s Beta Delta chapter will be recognized at the 2025 Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Heads Association (ECEDHA) Annual Conference March 20 – 24, 2025 in Norfolk, VA.