CEAT's 2024 W.W. Allen Scholars have big plans

CEAT's 2024 W.W. Allen Scholars have big plans

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Media Contact: Kristi Wheeler | Manager, CEAT Marketing and Communications | 405-744-5831 | [email protected]

Eliza Bobzien, Ceyda Kara and Cooper Holley were selected as recipients of the Oklahoma State University College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology's top two prestigious scholarships.

Bobzien and Kara were named the 2024 W.W. Allen Scholarship award recipients.

The W.W. Allen scholarship is available to engineering students and it offers over $135,000 in scholarships and opportunities. It consists of $7,500 annually, industry networking, study abroad experiences and mentorship. Scholars also receive full tuition and housing to obtain a master's degree at the University of Cambridge.

Eliza Bobzien is a civil and environmental engineering major from Richardson, Texas.

Eliza Bobzien is from Richardson, Texas, and graduated from Regina Caeli Academy. She is passionate about playing a vital role in creating more connected and safer communities, which led her to pursue a civil and environmental engineering degree.

"Civil engineering particularly appeals to me because of my long-standing fascination with historical architecture and enthusiasm for community enhancement," Bobzien said.

"Growing up, my favorite books included David Macaulay's history of the construction of the pyramids, Roman cities, cathedrals and more. His beautifully illustrated books showcase the architectural design of these buildings and their practical function. I especially loved 'City: A Story of Roman Planning and Construction' because it explains practical designs in urban structures that improved hygiene and transportation. I was amazed by the profound and direct impact of these ancient engineers on urban life."

With a degree in civil engineering, Bobzien realizes that she can directly impact helping build public spaces such as the ones she has read about so communities can thrive.

In addition to obtaining her degree in civil engineering, Bobzien plans to pursue a minor or earn a certificate related to Geographic Information Systems. After taking a summer class in GIS at a local community college, she recognized the power of combining her creative design sense and interest in information analysis, along with being able to create information-rich visuals through GIS, would complement her career goals.

Bobzien is excited to engage in undergraduate research related to testing building materials that are both durable and environmentally friendly. Additionally, she is eager to enroll in some of CEAT's study abroad programs and get involved in student organizations that will provide leadership and service opportunities.

Over the next 25 years, Bobzien aspires to help cities create safer, more vibrant public spaces or facilitate better ways to access community spaces. She has a goal to advocate for investment in improvement projects for low-income areas, where funding is often scarce.

"I believe creating safe and inclusive infrastructure uplifts the entire community, providing people with a health-supportive environment and often a means to connect with others and the outdoors," Bobzien said. "Living in safe and beautiful communities enriches the overall health of entire urban areas. Ultimately, I would like to be a part of creating a niche engineering firm as an expert consultant for cities striving to shape safer and more connected communities."

Ceyda Kara is a chemical engineering major from Stillwater.

Ceyda Kara is from Norfolk, Virginia, and graduated from Stillwater High School in Oklahoma. After interning at Stillwater Medical Center, Kara realized she wanted to pursue a degree in chemical engineering.

"In the summer of 2022, I interned at SMC, where I worked with doctors, nurses, therapists and more," Kara said. "Experiencing life in the hospital, I saw tiny heart stents placed in cardiology. I saw people resuscitated after being removed from a ventilator in the ICU. In the operating room, I watched a patient receive a new knee in just two hours."

There, she realized the depth that was behind each of these procedures. The stent she saw placed was not just a stent; it was a device that had thousands of hours of research behind it. It was a procedure with lots of time and practice behind it. It was a life experience that the patient and their loved ones would spend their lives grateful for. Kara witnessed how these hundreds of inventions and innovations transformed people's lives and wanted to be a part of that transformation.

"I aspire to be a precision psychiatrist who explores the unknown, learning and experiencing the unfamiliar complexities of life," Kara said. "Instead of only operating machinery or prescribing medicines, I want to be the one to create and research the medications used. I want to work to develop new surgical methods and perfect treatments for different illnesses. My answer to these curiosities lies in chemical engineering."

In medicine, chemical engineers are instrumental in developing drugs and medical devices. Their expertise is crucial in psychiatry for developing effective psychopharmacological medications, optimizing drug delivery systems, enhancing efficacy and minimizing side effects. Additionally, chemical engineering is critical to groundbreaking advancements in neuro-engineering and brain-computer interfaces. These technologies revolutionize psychiatric care, offering more accurate diagnoses, personalized treatments and novel therapies.

While at OSU, Kara plans to engage in undergraduate research and hopes to work under Dr. Yu Feng, whose research focuses on pulmonary drug delivery optimization. She also plans to expand her global perspective by participating in CEAT's study abroad programs.

"My objective is to embrace the journey of learning with curiosity," Kara said. "To become more understanding of the world. To ask more questions. With a heart full of ambition and a mind eager to explore, I step into this next chapter ready to transform my aspirations into reality, leaving a meaningful impact on my life and the broader community. OSU is my gateway to a world brimming with possibilities. It is here that I will not just learn, but lead, not just study, but innovate. I will not just push boundaries; I will redefine them."

Cooper Holley is from Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and graduated from Wesleyan Christian School. Holley's passion for numbers and technology inspired him to choose electrical engineering as his major.

Cooper Holley is an electrical engineering major from Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

Holley was named the 2024 W.W. Allen Boys and Girls Scholarship award recipient.

This scholarship program was designed to benefit someone who was an active member of a Boys & Girls Club while in high school and who wishes to pursue educational goals in engineering. The recipient is awarded $15,000 annually for up to four years of study toward a degree in engineering, enrichment activities, and domestic and international travel.

Holley's involvement with the Boys & Girls Club played an immense role in his formation as a person and basketball player. There, he learned the essential values of hard work, dedication and accountability.

"Basketball has been a vital portion of my life for as long as I can remember," Holley said. "With a father who played at the collegiate and semi-professional level, the expectations are high. The BGC basketball program enabled me to be the best player possible. I still use every skill I was taught in that program today. I would be nowhere near the player I am today without the BGC, and I have become a better person in general."

Numbers have always fascinated Holley. Whether reciting memorized digits of pi, meeting with teachers to study mathematics, or winning various awards at school and state levels for excelling in competition and classes, he has augmented his gift to the best of his ability.

When Holley was considering his career path and what direction he wanted to go with pursuing his college degree, it occurred to him that he could incorporate his aptitude for numbers into his passion for technology with an engineering degree.

"Technology, along with its advancements, is a topic I frequently find myself yearning to learn more about," he said. "I desire to know how varying devices work and why they are designed in a specific manner. Solely for consolidation, I took an extensive and expensive career aptitude and interest placement test. In perfect affirmation, both my aptitude and interests were primarily for occupations requiring engineering degrees. More specifically, electrical and computer engineering degrees."

During his academic career at OSU, Holley has goals to maintain a 4.0 GPA, pursue internships, enroll in CEAT's study abroad programs and join educational clubs.

"I plan to be profusely intentional about jumping at every educational opportunity by stepping out of my comfort zone," Holley said.

Photos: Kristi Wheeler

Story by: Kristi Wheeler | IMPACT Magazine

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