a baby from a fire,” he says. “It even needs to put out candles that simulate the fire.” According to Alex, these opportunities might not have been available to him if it weren’t for the Clark Engineering Scholars Program. “I applied early decision to GW,” he says, “but the financials didn’t 100 percent work out. My parents and I decided I would come, and at the end of my first year we would reevaluate whether or not I would be able to stay. But after getting the Clark scholarship, the financial burden was greatly eased for both me and my family.” Alex expresses sincere gratitude to the Clark Charitable Foundation: “I would like to say ‘thank you very much.’ The scholarship is greatly appreciated, both in its generosity to the students and its support for GW engineering.”
Tania Singh, ’18 Biomedical Engineering AS A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL, TANIA SINGH was pretty sure GW offered exactly what she was looking for in a college experience. She also found out she had been awarded a Clark scholarship, which ultimately sealed the deal. “It sounded like a great opportunity,” she says, pointing to Admitted Students Day, when she met with one of the biomedical engineering professors who told her what it meant to be a Clark Scholar at GW. “They were investing a lot in the engineering program, building a new building, spending money on research—and the Clark scholarship was something unique GW could offer me that other schools couldn’t.”
12 Impact | SPRING 2017
Now a junior, Tania is pursuing a degree in biomedical engineering with a minor in biophysics. She plans to continue her education following graduation and earn an MD/PhD. For the past two years, she has concentrated her research on the effects of ultrasound on pancreatic beta cells. “I’ve been working with Professor Zderic in the Therapeutic Ultrasound Lab, running experiments,” she says. “The research I’m doing is mostly diabetes specific, but I’m also working on the simulation of thermal mechanical effects of ultrasound on the abdomen, which has a broader applicability.” Tania began experiencing the benefits of being a Clark Scholar even before her first day in school. “We have a boot camp at the beginning of the semester, so freshman year, I was on campus a week before everybody else. It was kind of intimidating—nobody was here, you move into your dorm, and you’re by yourself. But I actually ended up meeting some of my best friends to this day when I first went to that boot camp.” Tania effusively describes her gratitude for having been chosen as a Clark Scholar: “I would definitely say ‘thank you.’ It’s been an incredible opportunity I wouldn’t have had without the support they have given me. Even some of the research I’m doing is because of the Clark Scholars Program requirements. It’s been incredible.”
Abbie Gillen, ’17 Engineering Management and Systems Engineering ABBIE GILLEN WAS INITIALLY ATTRACTED TO GW because of the “cool energy” and sense of community she felt when she first stepped onto campus as a high school junior from Johns Creek, Georgia. During her freshman year at GW, one of the engineering professors encouraged the incoming class to apply for the Clark Engineering Scholars Program, and she thought—“why not give it a try?” Four years later, she can emphatically say she is glad she did. “The Clark Engineering Scholars Program has been a great opportunity for me,” says Abbie, who is pursuing a degree in systems engineering with a double minor in computer science and biology. “I have been able to connect with GW alumni and previous scholars, and I’ve definitely gotten exposure to events and topics I never would have experienced otherwise.” One such event was the SEAS Hall of Fame dinner, which Abbie attended as a sophomore. A night to honor exceptional SEAS alumni, the celebration left a lasting impression. “I got to meet people who were 10, 20, 30 years down the line and see how their time at GW brought them success in their careers,” she says. “I also got to hear about the cool changes they were making in the world. I had a good time at that dinner, and I learned a lot about what my future might hold.” Abbie, who is graduating this spring, has recently secured a position as a systems engineer in the Washington, D.C., area. She attributes her experience as a Clark Scholar as pivotal in helping her find employment so quickly. “The Clark Scholars Program emphasized professional skills, how to network, how to talk to people, and how to go to interviews prepared,” she says.