WTS Columbus is pleased to announce the availability of scholarships for qualified female students interested in pursuing careers in transportation. Chapter-level scholarships total $16,000 for the 2024-25 award year. Local awardees are eligible to compete with other states' winners for WTS national-level scholarships.

Congratulations to the 2024-2025 Scholarship Recipients!

 

Holly Wirsing – Sharon D. Banks Memorial Scholarship (Undergraduate)

Holly Wirsing is a second year student at Ohio State University studying civil engineering and receiving a business minor through the Integrated Business & Engineering honors program. She is a part of Phi Sigma Rho, the engineering and STEM sorority on campus. She has strong interests in passenger transport and walkable city development, and aims to help develop a high speed rail system. Holly will begin her internship as a roadway engineer at American Structurepoint this coming May.

 

Madison Richards – Molitoris Leadership Scholarship (Undergraduate)

Maddie is a junior studying civil engineering at the University of Akron, and is from Hilliard, OH. She is currently the ASCE Student Chapter President at UA, and is also involved with Concrete Canoe and Steel Bridge. Maddie has worked two summer internships with a transportation focus and will complete a third one this upcoming summer.

 

Hailey DeGeorge – Helene M. Overly Memorial Scholarship (Graduate)

Hailey is pursuing a master's degree in Civil Engineering at Case Western Reserve University, with an anticipated graduation date of 2025. After graduation, Hailey plans to continue her career in bridge engineering, contributing to the design and development of vital transportation systems. In the future, she aspires to mentor and inspire the next generation of young engineers to explore the rewarding field of transportation engineering!

The Columbus Chapter is currently not accepting applications for the following four scholarships. Once applications are open, individuals are encouraged to apply for all scholarships to which they are eligible.  Applications can be downloaded via the following links:

 

Seal Russell – Bridgette Beato Leadership Legacy Scholarship (Graduate)

Seal Russell is a student in the Master's of City and Regional Planning program at the Ohio State University, where she is working on projects focusing on suburban walkability and greenway planning. She currently works as a Community Engagement Specialist with Warhol & Wall St, where she gets to share her excitement for transportation planning with people across the city. Upon graduating this spring, she intends to pursue a career in active transportation planning, creating cities that are easily accessible by foot, bike, or transit. When she's not at school or work, you can find Seal playing guitar or roaming the city on her bike.

 

Undergraduate:

Molitoris Leadership: $5,000

Sharon D. Banks Memorial: $3,000

Graduate:

Helene M. Overly Memorial: $5,000

Bridgette Beato Leadership Legacy: $3,000

All applicants must be female, Ohio-based, have a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, and plan to pursue a career in transportation. BAME (Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnicities) candidates are encouraged to apply.

Note: Applicants must have completed at least one semester of classes and have grades available by the application deadline.

Please send questions and your final submission to [email protected]