STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS Shelby Wales
GOLDWATER SCHOLAR
Nathan Adkins, a junior majoring in aerospace engineering and minoring in computer science, was awarded the German Academic Exchange Service Scholarship, or DAAD Rise, to attend Furtwangen University in Tuttlingen, Germany.
Auburn Engineering senior Shelby Wales was named a Barry M. Goldwater Scholar, an honor bestowed on only 410 students nationwide in 2021. The scholarship is widely considered the most prestigious award in the United States for undergraduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Industrial and systems engineering seniors Caroline Allen, Annie Dorsey and Anne Curtis Giovanelli were the winners of the Southeast Regional Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers’ Technical Paper Competition.
Wales, originally from Sylacauga, Alabama, is majoring in chemical engineering and minoring in supply chain management. Wales was chosen from a field of more than 5,000 college students.
The student chapter of the American Concrete Institute was awarded an Excellent University Award in the 2021 ACI Awards for University Student Activities. This is the sixth year in a row the student organization has earned ACI’s highest university honor.
Her research investigates different pathways of implementing 3D printing to investigate geochemical reactions. Wales hopes that by producing 3D printing models of real rock structures that possess the same reactive properties, further insight may be obtained about the geochemical reactions that occur in conjunction with carbon capture and sequestration.
The Autonomous Tiger Racing team placed in the top 3 among all university teams in the first three rounds of competition of the Indy Autonomous Challenge. The first rounds have included white papers, performance of passenger vehicles and race simulations ahead of the official race Oct. 23, 2021.
“I think the community of Goldwater Scholars I have already been connected to will be immensely helpful as I continue learning and begin my career,” Wales said. “I am incredibly honored to have been selected for this scholarship, and I hope it will put me in a position to continue doing work I enjoy with incredible people.” Wales noted that assistant professor Lauren Beckingham in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering has supported her research interests and personal academic journey from the time Wales joined Beckingham’s research group in spring 2019.
Industrial and systems engineering doctoral students Allison Brown and Mohsen Nikfar place second in a national 3D design competition hosted by Physna, a Cincinnati-based technology startup, for their design, Space Shuttle Launch. Four Auburn Engineering students were chosen to partner with fellows at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution in conducting research and initiatives for the Alabama Innovation Corporation. The students are industrial and systems engineering senior Madeline Ellison, electrical engineering senior Shivam Patel, chemical engineering senior Emily Schramek and mechanical engineering junior Daniel “Trey” Sims.
“The open, collaborative environment fostered in our research group has been formative toward my perception of the value of scientific research,” Wales said. The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship Program was established to provide scholarships to outstanding students who intend to pursue careers in mathematics, natural sciences and engineering. Each scholarship covers eligible expenses up to a maximum of $7,500 annually for undergraduate tuition, fees, books and housing. 20
Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
Listen to our podcasts with Andrew McGehee, Emily Schramek, Shelby Wales and Zac Young and learn about the American Concrete Institute and Autonomous Tiger Racing at eng.auburn.edu/ginning.
