MARQUETTE, Mich.—Dave Maki, the chief technology officer at Northern Michigan University, received Merit Network’s Award for Innovation in Networking and Information Technology. He was selected for his efforts to launch a WiMAX system at NMU.

According to Merit, Maki "spearheaded the efforts that led to NMU becoming one of the first campuses to offer campus-wide WiFi to its students and now has established the first campus-wide WiMAX network in the United States. In designing the network, he made sure that the surrounding cities and townships could utilize the network, enhancing online capabilities not only for NMU but the community at large."

Merit Network Inc. is a nonprofit corporation owned and governed by Michigan's public universities. It was created in 1966 as a resource to help meet their common need for networking assistance. Merit operates America’s longest-running regional research and education network.