Previous Recipients

Foundation Scholarship Recipients

The Susan E Stutz McDonald Scholarship Foundation (SESMSF) has awarded 51 scholarships to deserving female engineering graduate students since inception in 2005. The TOTAL amount of money awarded to date is $654,000.00.

The SESMSF has funded 2 Endowments in perpetuity: to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in the Tickle College of Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department for female graduate level students with an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering and currently enrolled in the graduate level Environmental Engineering Program with the focus on Water/Wastewater Management/ Environmental Management AND to the Society of Women Engineers for female graduate level students with an undergraduate degree in either Civil or Environmental Engineering and currently enrolled in a graduate level Environmental Engineering Program with a focus on Water/Wastewater Management/ Environmental Management. 

The Universities include Oregon State University (12), University of Tennessee Knoxville (8), University of Michigan (8), University of Texas Austin (4), Georgia Institute of Technology (4), University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (2), New Mexico State University (1), University of California Los Angeles (1), Columbia University(1), Stanford University (1), Texas A & M University (1), George Mason University (1), University of Nevada Reno (1), Carnegie Mellon University (1), University of California Berkeley (1), Oklahoma State University (1), State University of New York (1), University of California Irvine (1), University of South Florida (1). This totals 51 scholarships awarded as denoted by (#) following the University.

2023 Scholarship

2022 Scholarship

Claudia Bishop, UTK Endowment University of Tennessee, Knoxville
2022-2023

Claudia graduated from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering with an honors concentration and a minor in Watershed Studies in May 2022. She was involved with the campus chapters of the SWE, where she served on the Board, and the ASCE. Claudia graduates in May 2023 with a MS in Environmental Engineering with a focus in water resources. After graduation Claudia is employed full time at Civil and Environmental Consulting (CEC) water resources group.

Madeline Hale Talebi, SWE Endowment
University of California, Irvine
2022-2023

Madeline received her BSCE at UC Irvine where she did research for NOAA off the coast of Seattle, WA which fueled her passion to further her studies in climate change and the environment. Madeline received her MSCE at UC Irvine in December 2022. Career plans include full time work in water resources/renewables industry.

2021 Scholarship

Andrea Ross, SWE Endowment State University of New York
2021-2022

Andrea enrolled in the Master Program in Water Resources Engineering at the State University of New York (SUNY) from the College of Environmental Science and Forestry focusing on how climate change is impacting storm water runoff quantities. Andrea hails from a small town off the shores of Lake Ontario and is active in Campus SWE and NYWEA. Her expected graduation date is December of 2021.

Ava Delaney, UTK Endowment
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
2021-2022

Ava is from Yorba Linda, CA and is majoring in Civil Engineering in the honors program at UTK. After her BSCE is attained in 2025 Ava aspires to enroll in Environmental Engineering with a concentration in Water Resources in the Masters Program in the Tickle College of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UTK. In addition to her academic studies she is also enjoying her research assistantships and a summer internship at a geotechnical engineering company in Knoxville. Update 2023: Ava plans to graduate in May 2024 with a BSE and continue to her MS in Geotechnical Engineering at UTK post summer 2022 internship at Keller Engineering and summer 2023 internship at HTNB, Transportation Engineering

2020 Scholarship

Ashley E. Berninghaus, SWE Endowment
Oregon State University
2019-2020 & 2020-2021

Growing up in Western Washington with plenty of water, Ashley developed a love for water at an early age. She graduated from Montana State University in 2015 with a BS in both chemical and biological Engineering. Ashley is focusing on microorganism applications to improve water infrastructure and sustainability while pursuing her PhD.

2019 Scholarship

Sarah Dowda, UTK Endowment University of Tennessee, Knoxville
2019-2020

Her passion for the environment began in Western WA - where she is from and graduated from Evergreen University in 2011 with a BS in Biology, moved to Memphis, TN, Taught Environmental studies at Hutchison and enrolled in the University of Memphis to complete academic prerequisites for a Masters in Water Resources. I was selected to enroll at UTK in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the graduate level and began studies under Thanos Papanicolaou on sediment connectivity at small hydropower facilities.

2018 Scholarship

Salley Reamer, UTK Endowment
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
2018-2019

In 2018 Salley graduated with a BSEE from Clemson University. In 2018 Salley accepted a Graduate Research Assistantship in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering including responsibility to carry out soil chemistry and water quality research in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park following the Chimney Tops II Wildfire. Salley currently (2023) works for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in Knoxville, TN in the River Management Division. Salley was also awarded as the 2018 SESMSF University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK) Endowment Recipient.

Jessica Thompson, UTK Endowment
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
2018-2019

Graduated with a BSCE from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Post BSEE Jessica found herself working in Chattanooga,TN for the city’s Water Quality Program which quickly led to her decision to become an expert in the field. She was awarded a scholarship in 2018 at the UTK with the SESMSF Endowment and graduated with her PhD in Civil Engineering with a focus on Water Resources and a goal to be employed in the stormwater management field utilizing green infrastructure and low impact development practices.

Abigail Cohen
Georgia Institute of Technology
2018-2019

Abigail was 1 of 2 MSEE students in 2019 to receive the top award for their paper in the Ideas to Serve Competition entitled ‘Approach to Sustainable Fertilizer”. The passion for this idea can be traced to Abigail’s time spent in Kenya working with farmers interested in nutrient recovery solutions such as using urine as a natural fertilizer. Abigail also won the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation “Reinvent the Toilet Challenge” for her work in Kenya.

2017 Scholarship

Kendal Nicholas, SWE Endowment
Oklahoma State University
2017-2018

First Recipient of the SESMSF Society of Women (SWE) Endowment, BSCE with honors 2016. Working towards a MSCE with career goals of working for Oklahoma Department of Transportation(ODOT) in the Environmental Engineering Department.

Mio Unno
Georgia Institute of Technology
2017-2018

Georgia Institute of Technology - 2017 Recipient of the SESMSF.

2016 Scholarship

Samantha Corrado
Georgia Institute of Technology 2016-2017

I am a first-year Ph.D. student in the Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Water Resources group within Civil Engineering at Georgia Tech. I completed my undergraduate education at Manhattan College in Riverdale, New York where I majored in Civil Engineering and minored in Environmental Engineering and Mathematics. I am very fortunate to work with Dr. Aris Georgakakos at the Georgia Water Resources Institute, specializing in water resource management and planning. Currently my research is focused on developing operational decision-support tools for reservoirs in the Sacramento River Basin. I am very excited for the potential of direct impact my research may have now and in the future! Upon graduating from Georgia Tech, my goal is to pursue a career in academia.

Ellyn Weimer
University of Illinois 2016-2017

I am from Hinsdale, Illinois and attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Until I took an environmental engineering class, I had always taken water for granted. It comes out of your tap or gets flushed away, and you don’t have to think about it anymore—out of sight out of mind—but then I learned what happens outside of my field of vision, and I was fascinated. Water is such a precious and scare resource, yet most people, myself included, take it for granted. This perception needs to change in order to preserve water for many generations to come. My fascination led me to try and learn everything I could about water, and ultimately guided me into pursuing my Master’s Degree at the University of Texas at Austin in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, where I am currently. While pursuing my Master’s Degree, I am conducting research focusing on removing trace inorganics, which can be toxic at low concentrations, using bio-filtration. I am grateful to the Susan E. Stutz Scholarship for helping me pursue my passion, and I hope to one day help women with the same passion pursue their goals just like Susan E. Stutz-McDonald.

Ellen Roy
University of Michigan 2016-2017

I grew up near Minneapolis and learned to value water resources from a young age during summers spent canoeing on Minnesota's lakes and rivers. I attended Dartmouth College and graduated in 2013 with undergraduate degrees in Environmental Engineering and Environmental Earth Sciences. After graduating, I worked a variety of jobs around the U.S., learning about the values and interests of different communities around the country. Performing water quality research for the U.S. Geological Survey in Baltimore and seeing the degree and complexity of contamination inspired me to return to school to seek an engineering career. Through further coursework and research experience, I hope to work for the preservation of our environmental and water resources. I will be attending the University of Michigan beginning in fall 2017, pursuing a M.S.E. in Environmental Engineering. I am very grateful for the support of the Susan Stutz-McDonald Scholarship Foundation in helping me achieve this goal, and I hope to help fellow women environmental engineers in the future.

Kristen Wyckoff, UTK Endowment
University of Tennessee, Knoxville 2016-2018

My biggest accomplishments since getting the scholarship were getting hired as a faculty member at UT and getting an NSF award from the EAPSI program. I spent two months in the summer of 2017 working on researching stormwater runoff quality in relation to atmospheric quality in Beijing, China. I was able to use some of that information in my dissertation to graduate in December 2017.

I was officially hired as a Lecturer at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville in January 2018. I teach environmental engineering and water resources engineering courses for them. I don't do research, as I just teach. I do get to teach students specifically about water and wastewater treatment, which in a way sets up more students to follow the work that Susan did. I no longer coach the rugby team, as I took a break to focus more on my career, but I really enjoy my job. I have also taken the ASCE ExCEEd teaching workshop and am considered a graduate of that program as well.

Update 5-2022: Kristin Wyckoff is now teaching at George Washington University in St. Louis, MO in the Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering teaching Environmental Engineering courses in the McKelvey School of Engineering beginning in January of 2022. Kristen is a registered Professional Engineer in Tennessee.

2015 Scholarship

Coral Taylor University of Nevada, Reno 2015-2016

Currently serving as a Director on the Board of Directors for the Susan E Stutz McDonald Scholarship Foundation beginning in 2021.

I am passionate about the environment, sustainability, and equity and am interested in how human actions can be moderated to minimize negative environmental impacts while still providing a high quality of life for all peoples. I grew up in rural Nevada and saw first-hand how important water is for all beings in an arid environment. As the granddaughter of a mathematics teacher and the daughter of a botanist, I was encouraged and inspired to study STEM at university, and when a guidance counselor encouraged me to pursue engineering, it seemed like the perfect fit. At the University of Nevada, Reno, I received a B.S. in Environmental Engineering, which provided me with the opportunity to work as an undergraduate research assistant in the Environmental Engineering laboratory, under the tutelage of Dr. Amy E. Childress.

Post-graduation, I moved to the Truckee/North Lake Tahoe area of California, due to its proximity to outdoor recreation (specifically snowboarding, mountain biking, and hiking) and daily immersion in nature. I began my career working for the North Tahoe Public Utility District as an engineer, where I managed projects for their water and wastewater systems. I later worked for the Tahoe City Public Utility District, where I worked in the compliance department as well as on water and wastewater projects.
After twelve years in the public sector, I went back to the University of Nevada, Reno to pursue a M.S. in Environmental Engineering. My thesis work was focused on membrane distillation, which has the advantage of creating highly purified water while using very little energy. This technology can be coupled with solar energy to assist in cleaning solar panels and improving their efficiency. While I was in graduate school, I was fortunate to have received the Susan E. Stutz-McDonald Scholarship.

Upon completion of my master’s degree, I was intentional about finding a job that would allow me to collaborate with other humans that are also committed to water. Carollo Engineers seemed like an ideal workplace for me, and I was very excited to begin working there in January 2019. It has been a great place to work, and I’ve been enjoying assisting many communities with water/wastewater/recycled water master plans and projects. I have also been honored to serve on the SESMSF Board since September 2021 to present (April 2023). I am delighted to be following in Susan’s footsteps by carrying on both the environmental engineering work and the educational support she was dedicated to, as I also share these values and would like to contribute to her legacy.

The assistance provided by the Susan E. Stutz-McDonald Scholarship during my graduate studies was very much appreciated, as it helped me fund my academic pursuits and goals. It has also been my privilege to serve on the SESMSF Board and to be on this side of the scholarship which was so helpful to me.

Kelly Olson
Georgetown University 2015-2016

After graduating from Georgetown University with a degree in Science, Technology, and International Affairs, Kelly moved to the Atacama Desert of Southern Peru for two years of volunteer service with the Jesuit Volunteers Corps. There, she saw how the poverty, economic insecurity, and poor health that plagued her students and colleagues all stemmed from environmental issues and infrastructure failures. She decided to pursue graduate studies in Civil and Environmental Engineering to gain technical capacity in engineering processes and modeling that would build upon her background in the political and economic climate of technology and international development. She is pursuing an MS in Sustainable Design and Construction at Stanford University and hopes to work to develop low-tech wastewater treatment processes for energy generation and resource recovery that are applicable for use in developing countries.

Maoqiao Mao
Georgia Institute of Technology 2015-2016

“A disaster is going to happen if we as human beings do not take immediate action to address the global environmental crisis.” This is what I thought after watching the documentary An Inconvenient Truth in senior high school. I felt greatly motivated to think about effective methods to protect our living environment, so I chose environmental engineering as my major in university. During my undergraduate years, I have developed my interest in water treatment and the removal of persistent organic pollutants. In sophomore year, I led a five-student team to study photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A (BPA) by bismuth oxyiodide (BiOI) under stimulated solar radiation, which was selected as one of the 2012 National Undergraduate Innovation Projects. In order to better understand large-scale environmental problems, I took a summer intern at UCLA before the start of senior year. There, I focused on particle size analysis of coastal marsh sediments in Southern California. These experiences have confirmed my interest and strengthened my ability to pursue further studies on water issues.

I am currently a MS student in Environmental Engineering at Georgia Tech. My research focuses on disinfection by-products (DBPs) in drinking water and produce. Because DBPs pose potential carcinogenic risks to human beings, I am very interested in DBP formation and transfer mechanism, occurrence characteristics, and control methods. I hope my research can provide valuable suggestions to risk assessment as well as policy making with respect to disinfection process of drinking water and food industry. Additionally, I spent my summer interning at a waste water treatment plant in Atlanta and I gained a lot of hands-on experience in operation and maintenance. I am very honored to receive Susan E. Stutz-McDonald Scholarship and it will be of great help to allow me concentrate more on my studies. In the future, I hope to be an environmental engineer or consultant specializing in the aspect of water. I believe our living environment is getting better due to our every effort.

Madeline Wax
University of Michigan
2015-2016

University of Michigan graduate in Engineering. Water Engineer at Jacobs in Michigan.

2014 Scholarship

Aneela Mousam
George Mason University 2014-2015

I grew up in Arlington, Virginia just outside of Washington, DC. I received my Bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech in Biological Systems Engineering with a concentration in Land and Water Resources Engineering. After graduation, I move back to Northern Virginia and I am currently a graduate student at George Mason University studying Environmental and Water Resources Engineering. My thesis research is focused on understanding the impact of climate variability on malaria re-emergence in Peru. I got to spend part of my summer in 2015 living in Peru and working on my project.

I work as a graduate teaching assistant for various Civil Engineering courses. I am also an Engineering Intern at the US Army Corps of Engineers working on resilience and sustainability programs. I am planning to graduate in May 2016 and am currently applying to full-time engineering positions. My ultimate goal is to get my PE license and work on international development projects related to water resources. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, gardening and crocheting. I am thankful to have received the Susan E. Stutz McDonald Scholarship, which has helped to significantly lessen the financial burden of graduate school.

Chisara Jolly Anoruo
Texas A&M University 2014-2015

During my undergraduate senior project, I watched a documentary on how an oil spill episode completely rendered the farmlands and water sources of an entire community unfit for any use. This stirred up my interest in Environmental Engineering, with the focus on water resources. In my current study towards a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering, my thesis work is centered on modeling the effects of climate variability on the surface water and groundwater (GW-SW) availability and their interactions in the Nueces River Basin, Texas. These interactions become very important in drought/dry conditions. Given the frequent occurrence of drought conditions in Texas, and the increasing water demands due to growing population of the state, the results of this research could be a viable tool for sustainable water resources planning and management in this region, especially since most studies conducted in the past did not consider GW-SW interactions. In addition, the findings of this research could serve as bedrock for similar research in other locations both within and outside the US. Receiving the Susan E. Stutz-McDonald Scholarship is a great honor, and a source of encouragement to me in the pursuit of my desire to contribute towards developing tools/strategies for sustainable water resources to both this generation and the future generations.

Michelle Lacks
University of Texas, Austin 2014-2015

I grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, but I spent six years in New York City where I obtained my bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from Columbia University. My concentration within environmental engineering was water, and during my time as an undergraduate I had several experiences that led me to realize I wanted to work with water. Foremost among these, in my senior year I traveled to Uganda with Engineers Without Borders. Our project included testing and monitoring of a drinking water collection project that had been installed by a previous group, and it was eye-opening for me to see how much I had previously taken clean water for granted.

After graduating I began work as a Water Resources Engineer for ARCADIS-US Inc. where I worked for two years. While at ARCADIS I was especially fortunate to work in New York City, which has a large and complex water and wastewater treatment system. I was fascinated by the projects that New York continued to develop and by the new treatment technologies they were able to use. These projects led to my desire to increase my knowledge on water and wastewater treatment topics, and I am now a master’s student in the Environmental and Water Resources Engineering program at the University of Texas at Austin. My master’s thesis will focus on geopolymer-based solidification and stabilization of coal combustion products. The research can be applied to keep hazardous elements generated from coal power plants from leaching into the environment. I truly appreciate the support of the Susan Stutz-McDonald Foundation, and I hope that one day I can also help other women engineers to pursue their passion.

Si Qi (Cindy) Yao
University of Michigan 2014-2015

Before attending college in the Pioneer Valley in Western Massachusetts, I had always lived in cities: first Shanghai, next Toronto, and then New York. My time spent in a less urban area made me realize that cities are strange, highly engineered alcoves set apart from nature in that they interact with natural systems in very controlled ways. I have grown to see cities as physical manifestations of how society and technology intersect with the natural environment, and I am fascinated by the processes and tensions residing at this intersection.

I obtained my undergraduate degree at Mount Holyoke College, where I majored in chemistry and minored in biology. Attending a women's college demonstrated to me the important role of mentorship in empowering women to pursue various career goals, particularly those in traditionally male-dominated fields. I was incredibly fortunate to have had two wonderful advisors, both strong role models who inspired me to develop academically as well as personally.

Though I was a chemistry major, I did my thesis research in the environmental science department. Using experimental plots previously set up by my research advisor, I investigated how the addition of soil carbon amendments can promote denitrification in restored wetlands. This project enabled me to better understand one aspect of chemistry in the context of soil microbial processes, which are in turn part of a larger story about water quality and wetland restoration.

I am very grateful to receive the Susan E. Stutz-McDonald Scholarship, which will help support me during my dual Master's program in environmental engineering and sustainable systems at the University of Michigan. Through this program, I will gain skills and experience relevant to developing solutions for global water, energy, and food security concerns.

2013 Scholarship

Ugwem Eneyo
University of Texas, Austin 2013-2014

Ugwem I. Eneyo is a graduate student at Stanford University in her second year of the MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a focus in Environmental Engineering. She graduated with Honors from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a BS in Civil and Environmental Engineering in 2013. Despite being born and raised in southern Illinois, frequent travel to her family’s native country of Nigeria and her international exposure, in both industry and research, has fostered her interest in the sustainability of energy and water related infrastructure with a particular interest in developing countries. She plans on continuing with her PhD after completing her Master’s program. She is a strong advocate of encouraging STEM education in underrepresented communities and remains involved in several organizations including the National Society of Black Engineers, Society of Women Engineers as well as the co-founder of The Idotenyin Project, a Nigerian STEM-based non-profit organization.

Andrea McFarland
University of Michigan 2013-2014

My eyes were opened to the wonders of environmental engineering during my freshman year at Rowan University, when I asked my professor Dr. Jahan if I could help with her research as a summer job. She smiled, reached for her key-ring, walked me down the hall, and unlocked the door to where I would be spending my free time for the next four years. Walking inside, I had to squint from the brightness; shining above were rods of artificial sunlight and multi-colored lamps all spotlighting on my soon-to-be obsession: a table of gyrating beakers full of luminous green liquid. And so began my research focusing on optimizing the growth of algae for the purpose of biofuel production.

My research with algae ignited my desire to pursue graduate school and discover unexplored topics that will further contribute to the field of environmental engineering. I was not sure what area I wanted to focus on, however, until I became involved in Engineers Without Borders. I traveled to eight remote communities in The Gambia, Africa, to introduce peanut shell briquettes as an alternative fuel source, as well as to inspect and assess drinking water well pumping efficiency, durability, and maintainability. It was in Africa that I discovered the sheer power of water. In witnessing the innate and continuous need for water, I found my passion. During my graduate studies the University of Michigan, I plan to research water treatment, water quality, and sanitation. It is because of the Stutz-McDonald Scholarship that I am able to begin developing an innovative environmental research agenda. I hope to emulate the admirable ideals of Susan Stutz-McDonald as I develop my own passion for water and wastewater treatment.

Sofie Leon
California Polytechnic State University 2013-2014

When I was young, I visited my father’s native country of Haiti and was astonished by the lack of infrastructure and its damaging affect on the nation. People lack access to the basic necessities of life: clean water to drink, safe shelters to live, and developed roads to travel. My experience in Haiti piqued my interest to learn about infrastructure development and led me to pursue an undergraduate education in Civil Engineering at the California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly). The devastating earthquake in Haiti occurred around the same time that I was starting my PhD research. Hundreds of thousands of people lost their lives, largely due to collapse of structures. This tragedy transformed my interest in civil infrastructure into a sense of duty to develop an enhanced understanding of how structures fail. Thus, my undergraduate desire to become knowledgeable in the fundamental principles of engineering will be realized through my PhD research.

In my dissertation research, I conduct three-dimensional simulations of fracture and failure of engineering materials. I employ the well-known Finite Element Method (FEM), in which the problem domain is divided into thousands of small elements, where the equations describing the deformation are solved. In addition to FEM, cracks are modeled with special cohesive elements that are capable of separating from each other, and thus form a crack. To solve problems of realistic size, I develop efficient computer codes for use on super computers. These simulations of fracture phenomenon will help engineers understand how structures fail, thus enabling them to design safer systems.

In addition to my research efforts, I also spend time giving back through outreach and community service activities. I love to encourage young, underrepresented students to pursue STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields. For example, for three summers as a graduate student I coordinated the Girls’ Adventures in Math, Engineering and Science (GAMES) Structures Camp for up to 100 middle- and high-school girls. I have also been active in the Society of Women Engineers since I was an undergraduate student, and more recently I’ve focused much of my efforts in SWE on advocating for women graduate engineering students. I started the GradSWE committee of the University of Illinois Chapter of the Society of Women Engineers in 2012. I along with my committee of eight graduate women have grown GradSWE to about 200 members who come to events and participate in programs, making GradSWE at Illinois one of the largest graduate sections in the nation.

I am fortunate to have been supported throughout my PhD by the Structural Engineering Graduate Fellowship, the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, the Philanthropic Education Organization Scholars Award, and now the Susan E. Stutz-McDonald (SESM) Scholarship. I am very thankful for the support of the SESM Scholarship as it will make my dream of earning a PhD in civil engineering a reality!

Colleen Lyons
University of Texas, Austin
2013-2014

In 2011, I graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a bachelor's degree in materials science in engineering. During my undergraduate degree, I worked part time in the Engineering Career Services office as a student secretary; also, I did research on various projects (ranging from Veterinary Medicine, tribology, steel, polymers, to E.coli deposition rates), and I was a design lead for an Engineers Without Borders project, which helped construct a water system in Cameroon.
I am now in my third year in UT's Environmental and Water Resources Engineering graduate program. I have continued to work on the Engineers Without Borders project, I volunteer with a STEM module in an after-school program in an economically disadvantaged part of Austin for second graders, and I will (hopefully) continue improving upon the hobby I picked up last year .... rock climbing!

Once I finish my Ph.D, I would like to work emergency relief in Central Africa for a few years. After this, I hope to conduct research for an international organization to create better water treatment systems.
I really appreciate your generous support. This scholarship will mean that I can afford microscopy time for a complicated technique that will significantly advance my M.S./Ph.D. project.

Ashley Evans
University of Texas, Austin
2013-2014

I grew up in New Braunfels, Texas, which is well-known for the Comal and Guadalupe Rivers. Witnessing several devastating floods taught me the power of water a very young age, and participating in water quality testing allowed me to observe the effects of tourism on our local water quality. These experiences sparked my interest in water quality and water resources.

I successfully completed my Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in May 2011 with “highest honors” and my Master’s degree in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering in May 2013 from The University of Texas at Austin. I had the opportunity to serve as President of our American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) student chapter, and helped to found a joint student chapter of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and Water Environment Federation (WEF). I spent my summers interning with the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT), Alan Plummer Associates, Inc. (APAI), the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), and HDR, Inc.   

The Susan E. Stutz-McDonald Scholarship helped to fund my graduate research which demonstrated an increase in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) under phosphorus- and nitrogen-limitations in a mixed community of drinking water bacteria. The results of this research provided the industry with a greater understanding of how to control excessive headloss in biological drinking water filters. The opportunity to participate in graduate research was an invaluable experience.

I am excited to currently be a member of the ARCADIS water planning and design teams in Dallas, Texas. I am assisting with client projects across the entire water-spectrum including water treatment, wastewater treatment and pipeline projects. I am bringing my research experiences into the industry as a community of practice member for the ARCADIS biofiltration team. I am also continuing my involvement in AWWA as a member of the Texas Section Water Quality and Technology Division, and WEF as a seminar committee member for the North Texas Section of the Water Environment Association of Texas.
I am sincerely thankful to the Susan E. Stutz-McDonald Foundation for supporting my graduate research experience. I hope to mirror the same passion and dedication throughout my career as Susan Stutz-McDonald showed throughout hers.

Nancy Tseng
University of California, Los Angeles 2013-2014

After obtaining my undergraduate degree in Environmental Science, I decided to pursue a Master's and Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles. Throughout my undergraduate education, I participated in three research opportunities, focusing on the toxicity of toxins, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and diacetyl, towards humans and aquatic organisms. These research experiences led me to become an environmental engineer so that I can apply research to solve pollution problems. My Ph.D. dissertation focuses on developing a cost-effective removal solution for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) using naturally-occurring microorganisms. PFASs are stable, toxic compounds found globally and used in numerous products, such as non-stick applications and aqueous fire-fighting foam. My research may be applied at numerous contaminated sites, including ground water and wastewater treatment plants, to remove PFASs from the environment. My graduate experience has allowed me to develop research, leadership, and managerial skills as I helped my adviser build her laboratory from nothing. I am now leading 3 different teams, comprising of 3 undergraduate students and 1 master's student, who each have their own individual projects. All the skills I have gained thus far will benefit my future career as an environmental engineer. I am thankful for receiving the Susan E. Stutz-McDonald Scholarship to help me with my ultimate goal of becoming an environmental engineering leader to develop better water treatment processes and to minimize harm to the public and the environment.

Brianna Juhrend
University of Michigan 2013-2014

Currently serving as a Director on the Board of Directors for the Susan E Stutz McDonald Scholarship Foundation beginning in 2021

In May 2013, I graduated from the University of the Pacific in California, where I received a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and was recognized as the Outstanding Student Graduate of the School of Engineering and Computer Science. I am currently pursuing a Masters degree in Environmental Engineering at the University of Michigan. Although my undergraduate emphasis was environmental, I am excited to gain further specialization within this field. During my first year, I am a graduate research assistant on a collaborative project between the School of Public Health and the College of Engineering. This research will study how wastewater treatment, specifically disinfection, can assist in preventing antibiotic resistance genes from entering the environment.

I chose to pursue engineering in order to combine my interests in math and science with a career that would provide opportunities to have a global positive impact. During my undergraduate career, I was involved in the Global Center and the Council of Social Entrepreneurs. Through this involvement, I attended the Clinton Global Initiative University and made a commitment to improve access to clean drinking water. For over one and a half years, I spread awareness of this issue and raised over $6500 to fund a water well project in South Sudan. I also received an Ambassador Corps Fellowship and in summer 2013, I interned with a social enterprise, Sanergy, which aims to improve access to hygienic sanitation in the urban slums of Nairobi, Kenya. These experiences established a passion for access to clean drinking water, sanitation, and public health. I hope to make positive impact in this realm throughout my career and through involvement in organizations such as Engineers without Borders.

I look forward to a profession in the water and wastewater industry. Thank you to the Susan E. Stutz-McDonald Scholarship Foundation for this honor.

Hired in SAC Jan 2015. Brianna (Juhrend) Barton is a Senior Engineer with Carollo Engineers, Inc. Her 8 years of experience includes regulatory compliance efforts, including water quality studies and permit-required reports, urban water management planning, long-term water resources planning, facility design, and engineering services during construction. Currently serving as a Director on the Board of Directors for the Susan E Stutz McDonald Scholarship Foundation beginning in 2021.

Sarah Brunsvold
Columbia University
2013-2014

Graduate level Engineering Student in 2013 presented by SWE enrolled at Columbia University and received her MSE in 2015.

2012 Scholarship

Katie Snyder
University of Michigan 2012-2013

I just finished my Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering with concentrations in Environmental Engineering and Hydraulics & Hydrological Engineering at the University of Michigan. As an undergraduate student, I worked on a research team investigating arsenic and nitrate removal from groundwater using a fixed-bed anaerobic bioreactor system. I was also involved in the Better Living using Engineering Laboratory (BLUELab) Hagley Gap Team which is working on implementing the use of biosand filters for water purification in Jamaica. For three summers, I interned at an environmental and engineering consulting firm, working mainly on site characterization and remediation projects. I have greatly enjoyed these different opportunities to apply what I have learned in the classroom to real-life problems. After getting my Master’s degree, I hope to work on water and sanitation projects in a developing country for a few years before returning to the US to work as an environmental engineering consultant.

Kirsty Bramlett
University of New Mexico 2012-2013

I grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico in a community that values open spaces and outdoor recreation including hiking, biking, skiing and snowboarding. A guest spoke in my high school calculus class about Environmental Engineering, and I decided that it was what I wanted to pursue. I received my Bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California in Environmental Engineering. I have always had an interest in sustainability and engineering methods that are focused on improving the environment. I completed a Master’s degree in Public Administration from California State University, Northridge while working in the Environmental Division of Public Works for the City of Burbank. I learned the importance of inter-agency cooperation through the program. I then had the opportunity to live abroad in Spain and Latvia. Although I was not formally using my engineering skills, I was exposed to diverse cultures and various engineering methods throughout my travels.

I am currently working on a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering at the University of New Mexico. My thesis work is focused on storm water conveyance through designed natural bottom channels on reclaimed land, and comparing the soil infiltration and watershed data to naturally occurring channels of comparable size. This information can help with future designs and restoration of intermittent streams in semi-arid environments. I am interested in using my skills internationally through organizations such as Engineers without Borders and Engineering Ministries International, as well as in the United States. I am honored to have received the Susan E. Stutz-McDonald Scholarship, and hope to carry on the work that she was dedicated to throughout her life in engineering, water resources, and the environment.

2011 Scholarship

Nadine Kotlarz
University of Michigan 2011-2012

My interest in Environmental Engineering started when I read an article about Professor Arup Sengupta at Lehigh University, who has studied and used arsenic-selective adsorbents to provide safe drinking water in villages in India. This was when I became aware of the disparity between the simplistic, often taken-for-granted access we have to safe water in the U.S., compared with the challenges faced by others in accessing the same.

I realized there is a uneven distribution of many resources, not just safe drinking water but including education and sanitation infrastructure, and that I would like to develop a variety of skills which I can bring to the table of professionals who are working to close the gap between the world’s “have’s” and the “have-not’s.”
After graduating with a B.S. in Environmental Engineering, I taught 7th grade math and science for two years through Teach for America, an organization committed to closing the achievement gap between low-income students and their affluent peers.  In 2009, I joined the team at Shaw Environmental, Inc., an environmental consulting firm, and spent two years learning about administration of municipal and state energy programs. Shaw underlined for me the relationship between water and energy, and taught me to look for opportunities to reduce energy use at water and wastewater treatment facilities.

I came to the University of Michigan to work with Professor Lutgarde Raskin and her team, and to learn more about biological removal of contaminants from drinking water. I am particularly interested in enhancing natural processes to remove contaminants from drinking water and wastewater. As an M.S.E candidate for 2013, I’m very excited about the next two years and this chance to interact with professors and peers at Michigan

2010 Scholarship

Amy Oberlin
University of Michigan 2010-2011

I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in Chemical Engineering and gained an interest in Environmental Engineering via elective courses along the way. I had such a enjoyable experiences with my course work that I decided to pursue a master's degree in Environmental Engineering to make the world a better place. I am a firm believer in environmental stewardship and wish to become an environmental engineering consultant specializing in water treatment (drinking and wastewater) and natural water remediation. I also hope to work through Engineers without Borders in the future to use my technical knowledge to serve others and make a difference in the world. I became a chemical engineer because of my talents, but I want to become an environmental engineer because of my goals and ambitions.

2007 Scholarship

Morgan Bruno
Oregon State University
2006 - 2007 & 2007 - 2008

PE certified.  Morgan has 8 yrs Prof experience working environmental site characterization and remediation projects for both federal and commercial clients.  Works at CH2M Hill.  BS Biological and Agricultural Engineering 2008 from U of Idaho, 2009 received a Masters of Science in Chem Engineering from OSU. 

Update 09-27-2018:  Morgan is no longer with CH2M.  She is currently in Anchorage AK and took a position with Ahtna Engineering Services as an Environmental Project Manager.  She recently received her AK PE license.

Dusty Berggren
Oregon State University
2006-2007 & 2007-2008

Remediation Technologist at Jacobs & experience at CH2M as Treatability Manager, Graduate Research Assistant & Teaching Assistant @ Oregon State University.  Received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering in 2008 & a Masters of Science in Chemical/ Environmental Engineering in 2011 from OSU. 

Update on 09-27-2018;  Dusty is currently leading the Treatability Lab Program for Jacobs (which acquired CH2M at the end of 2017) which at the time were ranked second on the list of top environmental firms!

Katie Sheldon
Oregon State University
2006-2007 & 2007-2008

I am a student and always will be a student. I have an innate drive to learn and to excel in my pursuits. My academic history proves I am a motivated student with an aptitude of excellence. I majored in Biological Systems Engineering at the University of California, Davis and graduated with honors. Post-graduation, I took time away from academia and engineering, a decision that afforded me the opportunity to travel and learn about many engineering feats and needs world-wide. I gained real-world experience and am now enthusiastic and focused as I return to engineering.

As an undergraduate student, I worked in laboratories (genetics, cancer research, biomedical, metal shop) and post-graduation, worked as a laboratory technician for Gallo Family Vineyard. I enjoy conducting research and am thorough and precise in my work. Along with laboratory experience, I have extensive customer service experience and feel that the combination of people skills, public speaking abilities, and laboratory/research skills makes me an ideal candidate for a graduate engineering program. Engineering project management especially appeals to me as a long-term career goal.

A trip to Cambodia in 2007 helped me determine the area of engineering I want to pursue. During my trip, I visited two remote villages and spoke with an engineer working with Research and Development International implementing his rain water collection and purification designs in these villages. He not only helped to install his home-collection and purification devices (through the help of the villagers and local NGO staff), but was also educated the villagers about water safety, resource preservation, and health; I was inspired. I realized I desperately missed engineering and problem-solving. I now have a direction and goal for my research. Clean and available drinking water is essential to a healthy life. I want to help provide that necessity to people through my work in the engineering field.

I am an outdoor enthusiast and have a deep appreciation for nature. I am excited to learn more about the preservation of natural resources and about wastewater treatment. Effective wastewater treatment is an important step in natural resource preservation. I want to research more effective methods of water purification than are currently available, and thus be able to utilize otherwise wasted water sources in individual homes and in communities. Ideally, such methods would prove effective in both developing and developed nations. My experience with laboratory and research techniques, combined with a love of learning and real-world experience will help me succeed as a graduate student at Oregon State University.

I am grateful to receive the Susan E. Stutz-McDonald Scholarship to help me with my pursuits. Working to develop and improve methods for purification and preservation of water is a fantastic dream turned into reality. 

Danelle Bertrand
Oregon State University 2006-2007 & 2007-2008

I graduated last March with an MS in Civil Engineering, emphasis in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering.

My MS thesis was on the fate of trihalomethanes (THMs) in basalt aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) systems in Oregon. I partnered with GSI Water Solutions (Portland, OR) to obtain previously collected data for ASR systems in the Oregon cities of Tigard, Beaverton, and Echo. I performed a data analysis and calculated dilution corrected first order reaction rates for chloroform, bromodichloromethane, chlorodibromomethane, and total THMs for each site. I corrected for dilution using major ion concentrations as tracers after doing a separate analysis to determine which ions behaved conservatively at each site. In general, my results were similar to those of other studies in non-basalt ASR systems. THMs were found to be fairly conservative in aerobic systems and to degrade rapidly in anaerobic systems. In general, degradation rates were found to increase as operating ASR system redox conditions became more reducing.

Jaynie Whinnery
Oregon State University 2006-2007 & 2007-2008

I am a graduate student at Oregon State University pursuing dual graduate degrees in environmental engineering and public policy, with aspirations of pursuing a PhD in the future. My undergraduate degree is in mechanical engineering, with a minor in communication. My goal is to acquire a unique skill set that will enable me to work on solutions to the global issue of achieving universal access to safe water and sanitation. I have been an active member of Engineers Without Borders (EWB) since 2008 and my experiences with the organization have been inspirational. Through opportunities with EWB and other organizations, so far I have worked on rainwater catchment systems and wash stations in El Salvador, rural water supply development in Kenya, and drinking water filters in Cambodia. Each of these initiatives I see as steps in the right direction, however there are larger concerns at play, which is why I am also getting involved in the field of public policy. Environmental solutions involve both technology and politics and I am striving to serve as a link for more effect ive communication between two somewhat disparate fields. I want to thank the Susan E. Stutz-McDonald Scholarship Foundation for supporting my aspirations.