2013 Intellectual Benefits to Society Award Winner Honored By The Mensa Education & Research Foundation

Arlington, Texas, August 20th, 2013 — The Mensa Education & Research Foundation has named Matthew Guggemos of Vallejo, Calif., the recipient of the 2013 Intellectual Benefits to Society Award.

He received the award for developing an app that assists children on the Autism Spectrum improve their social communications with others. Guggemos is a licensed speech-language pathologist in the San Francisco Bay Area. “The app can help teach difficult communication concepts to children on the autism spectrum, as it incorporates a user's image to demonstrate target speech behaviors and it helps parents and teachers interact in meaningful ways with these children,” said Guggemos. Mr. Guggemos partnered with Lois Jeani Brady, M.A., CCC-SLP to develop the innovative app.

“We are very pleased to present Mr. Guggemos with this award. His software program embodies the type of advancement we are proud to honor,” said Foundation President Dave Remine. Mensa Foundation trustee, James Werdell presented Mr. Guggemos with the award at the San Francisco Regional Mensa Monthly Gathering.

The 2013 Intellectual Benefits to Society Award is given to a Mensa member whose innovative activities impact education programs for employees; client or business associate education programs; programs designed to educate the public; or intellectual research and development. To find out more about the Mensa Foundation awards, visit mensafoundation.org/awards.

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The Mensa Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on intelligence and giftedness in the community at large. It's mission supports two of the three stated purposes shared by all Mensa organizations, to identify and foster intelligence for the benefit of humanity and to encourage research into the nature, characteristics, and uses of intelligence. The Mensa Foundation pursues these goals, in partnership with American Mensa and/or Mensa International where appropriate, with resources donated by Mensans and non-Mensans alike and aspire to use the intelligence of Mensans and non-Mensans to make the world a better place. For more information about the Mensa Foundation, visit mensafoundation.org or call (817) 607-5577.