CAMBRIDGE, Mass.-Ten undergraduates at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have become the latest recipients of Richard P. Simmons `53 Scholarship awards, MIT has announced.
The fund, established by the R. P. Simmons Family Foundation of Pittsburgh, gives preference to the children of Allegheny Ludlum Corp. employees and to students from western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and northern West Virginia. The Simmons fund is one of fewer than 10 at MIT funded at $1 million or more. Mr. Simmons, who is chairman of Allegheny Ludlum Corp. of Pittsburgh, received a bachelor's degree in materials science from MIT in 1953.
The latest recipients:
Frank Benham is a sophomore from Weirton, W. Va., who is majoring in mechanical engineering. He is a member of Circle K, a service organization, and is the club's chartering president and lieutenant governor for the division. Frank is also his dormitory's athletic chair, responsible for organizing intramurals. He participates in track and field and rugby and takes pride in being an Eagle Scout.
Meghan Bowser is from New Castle, Pa., and is a senior who is majoring in biology. Meghan has participated in an Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) project in the Department of Biology and is heavily involved as a member of MIT's Hunger Action Group. She coordinates the volunteer program in charge of food salvage for one of the dining halls here on campus. This past summer Meghan worked as a counselor and teaching assistant for Carnegie-Mellon's summer program. In her spare time she takes potter's wheel classes through the Student Art Association. Her plans include research in the biological sciences, possibly becoming a professor.
Jill Depto is a sophomore from Triadelphia, W. Va., who is majoring in chemical engineering. She is a member of the women's ice hockey team and also plays softball. Jill is the secretary of the Lebanese Club and a member of both the Concert Band and the Concert Jazz Band. She works as a skating attendant and participates in intramural volleyball. Jill plans on attending graduate school in chemical engineering with a minor in music.
Shawn Kelly, from Pittsburgh, is a junior in electrical engineering and a member of the Intramural Council Executive Committee and the varsity cross-country and indoor and outdoor track teams. He is also a member of the Tech Catholic Community and serves on its council and in the church choir. He volunteers as a science teacher at a local elementary school and tutors at the Cambridge public high school. Last summer Shawn participated in a UROP in orthopedic biomechanics. His plans include engineering and biomedical research.
Tina Lin has maintained an impressive academic record into her junior year. She comes from Indiana, Pa., and is majoring in civil engineering. She has participated in a UROP, under Professor Schrader in the Sloan School of Management, entitled "CEO Education and Performance Research". Tina is a member of the Chamber Music Society, playing in a string quartet and also participates in the Alpha Phi sorority where she is the chapter treasurer. Her plans include graduate school.
Jose Matos is a senior from Pittsburgh who is majoring in mechanical engineering. Jose is an active member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) where he is a regional representative and a member of the activities committee. He is his dormitory's athletic chair, rush chair and president. Jose works in the Barker Engineering Library and he tutors in the public high school in Cambridge. Jose still finds time to volunteer at the Cambridge Salvation Army soup kitchen. Last summer Jose was an intern at the Mine Safety Appliances Company in Pittsburgh.Chadwyck Musser, a sophomore from W.heeling, W. Va., is majoring in mechanical engineering. He is a member of the MIT Symphony Orchestra's brass quintet where he plays the french horn. He is also the orcnestra's librarian. Chadwyck is a member of the Chamber Music Society and the Concert Jazz Band. He is the winner of the MIT Performance Scholarship for private study and enjoys playing intramural basketball, volleyball and hockey.
Karen Schmitt of Pittsburgh is a senior majoring in civil engineering. Karen has maintained an outstanding academic record in her four years here at MIT. She has participated in a UROP in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and is the vice president for education in her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega. Karen is a member of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and the Civil Engineering Honor Society (Chi Epsilon). Last term Karen was the project manager of an entry in the National Design Contest. She works at her dormitory front desk and snack bar and volunteers at the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center. Last summer Karen worked for the Bechtel Corp. in Boston doing engineering construction.
Christopher King of Butler, Pa., is a junior this year. The electrical engineering and computer science major worked at the Ohio Aerospace Institute last summer. He is the community service chair of his fraternity, Zeta Psi and enjoys participating in intramural sports, including soccer, hockey, baseball and volleyball. In his spare time he enjoys the theater arts. As for Christopher's plans he would like to be a computer scientist.
Tammy Stoops is a senior from Export, Pa. She is majoring in nuclear engineering and with an outstanding academic record ranks first of the senior nuclear engineering majors. Tammy plays the trumpet for the MIT Concert Band and is the captain of the women's rugby team. She holds memberships in the engineering honor society, Tau Beta Pi; her dormitory government, where she is the dormitory library co-chairperson; and the MIT American Nuclear Society. Tammy volunteers in area public schools and also works in the Barker Engineering Library. Last summer Tammy worked as a junior engineer at Westinghouse Bettis Atomic Power Lab in West Mifflin, Pa., and she would like to have a career in the nuclear engineering industry.
"We are fortunate," said Stanley G. Hudson, director of student financial aid at MIT, "that with the help of concerned benefactors such as Mr. Simmons, we are able to offer the large amount of aid required by such deserving young people."
MIT maintains a need-blind admissions policy. Nearly 60 percent of undergraduates receive financial aid through grants, loans and jobs. For information on the scholarship contact the Student Financial Aid Office, MIT, Rm. 5-119, Cambridge, Mass. 02139, phone 617-253-4971.
