By Thomas Coughlin
Publication Date: 2026-05-08 16:58:00
Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, receiving the IEEE Medal of Honor with Mary Ellen Randall, 2026 IEEE President in background
IEEE
Note that I was IEEE President in 2024.]
Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of Nvidia, was awarded the $2M 2026 IEEE Medal of Honor at the IEEE Honors Ceremony in New York City. He donated the full prize money plus an additional match from the Jen-Hsun and Lori Huang Foundation to support the next generation of engineers. In particular, the combined prize money will be used to fund new graduate scholarships in computing and to support hands-on STEM education initiatives, known as IEEE TryEngineering, with these programs expected to start in 2027.
Huang received IEEE’s highest honor for his pioneering leadership in accelerating computing and artificial intelligence. Just before Jensen came to the stage for his recognition and a standing ovation from the attendees, his colleague and fellow Nvidia co-founder, Chris Malachowsky was awarded the 2026 IEEE Robert N. Noyce Medal for pioneering parallel computing architectures and leadership in semiconductor design. He also donated is cash award to IEEE TryEngineering, to support initiatives that help introduce engineering to school-aged children.
The ceremony also included a commissioned data-storytelling film created with information designer Giorgia Lupi and her team at Pantagram to illustrate the shared pathways and collaborations connecting the 2026 honorees. The IEEE Awards Program was established more…