SSE hosts SMART scholar in systems engineering

HOBOKEN, N.J. ― The Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholar Program (http://smart.asee.org/) is sponsoring a new student this year at Stevens’ School of Systems and Enterprises. Antonina York, the award recipient, will pursue a graduate degree in Systems Engineering at Stevens with a full scholarship and stipend. The award is funded by the Department of Defense (DoD) as part of the National Defense Education Program, created to encourage high-achieving individuals in science and mathematics to use their advanced degree training in the service of the DoD and the defense industry.

Currently, 60% of the DoD workforce is eligible for retirement within the next 10 years. The urgency for seeding new talent has led to a partnership with the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), which manages the application and payment process for the SMART Scholar program. The goal of the program is to enable participants to focus entirely on obtaining their degree, while gaining familiarity with DoD facilities, operations, and culture. In return for one year of work at a DoD facility for each academic year funded, participants receive full tuition and fees for undergraduate and graduate work, an annual cash award, security clearance, summer internships and travel expenses, an experienced mentor, an allowance for books and health insurance, and post-graduation employment.

York graduated from Drew University in May 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, Music (Composition) and Physics. She then pursued a master’s degree in Mathematics from Montclair State University, which she finished this past May 2009. After an experience working on a space project, the Mars Gravity Biosatellite, at Montclair State University, she understood that there is an entirely different set of skills to learn when it comes to structuring large projects like this, especially in space.

“When I researched where I could learn these kinds of skills, I realized that there is a name for this discipline: systems engineering. And that’s when I found Stevens,” said York. “So far, the coursework I’ve taken in systems engineering has been a perfect fit– this is what I want to do.” York is being sponsored by the Arnold Engineering Development Center located at Arnold AFB near Tullahoma, Tenn., where she will be employed upon earning her Systems Engineering degree.

The application deadline for the 2010 SMART Scholar Program is December 15. To learn more, and apply, please visit http://smart.asee.org/.

To learn about other fellowship and award opportunities at Stevens, please visit http://sse.stevens.edu/academics/awards-and-scholarships/.

For more information, please contact:

Ellen Hogarty, SSE Outreach and Communications Associate
Babbio Center 512
Phone: (201) 216-8758
Fax: (201)-216-5080
E-mail: ehogarty@stevens.edu

About Stevens Institute of Technology

Founded in 1870 and celebrating 140 Years of Innovation, Stevens Institute of Technology, The Innovation University, is one of the leading technological universities in the world dedicated to learning and research. Through its broad-based curricula, nurturing of creative inventiveness, and cross disciplinary research, the Institute is at the forefront of global challenges in engineering, science, and technology management. Partnerships and collaboration between, and among, business, industry, government and other universities contribute to the enriched environment of the Institute. A new model for technology commercialization in academe, known as Technogenesis®, involves external partners in launching business enterprises to create broad opportunities and shared value.

Stevens offers baccalaureates, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management, in addition to a baccalaureate degree in the humanities and liberal arts, and in business and technology. The university has a total enrollment of 2,234 undergraduate and 3,700 graduate students with more than 400 faculty. Stevens’ graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. Additional information may be obtained from its web page at www.stevens.edu.

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