WTS Houston 2024 Gala Program

WELCOME

On behalf of the 2023-2024 Board of Directors and the Scholarship Awards Committee, thank you for your continued contributions to the WTS Houston Chapter. We are committed to advancing the careers of women in transportation through education and professional development. With your support, the WTS Houston Chapter is able to encourage women pursuing careers in transportation by awarding local scholarships to students at the high school, undergraduate and graduate levels.

Our Scholarships

HELENE M. OVERLY MEMORIAL

The scholarship is awarded to women pursuing graduate studies in transportation or a related field. This award is for $7,000.

JANNET WALKER-FORD LEADERSHIP LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP

For graduate students who are the future leaders of transportation and who demonstrate interest in advancing transportation innovation. This award is for $1,000.

SHARON D. BANKS UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP

Fosters the development of women in the transportation field by encouraging bright new professionals to undertake careers in transportation. This award is for $6,000.

MOLITORIS LEADERSHIP

For undergraduate students in transportation or related field who demonstrate leadership skills, ability and interest. This award is for $1,000.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE/TECHNICAL/TRADE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP

Fosters the development of women in the transportation field by encouraging bright new professionals to undertake careers in transportation. This award is for $3,500.

TRANSPORTATION YOU & TRADE SCHOOL

Fosters the development of women and girls in transportation field by encouraging bright, new professionals and students to undertake careers in transportation. This award is for $3,500.

WTS Houston scholarships will be presented by our 2024 Titanium Sponsors.

GALA DONORS

Silent Auction Sponsors

Angela McMurray ASH&E, LLC

Azadeh Tavakoli

Barbara Koslov

Beverly Jones Designs

Blockhead Strategy Consulting

Caitlin Timoney

DEC

Fleet Feet

HDR

HEB

Hollaway

Houston Airports

Jacobs

Karen Coopersmith

Kathleen Grover

Kendra Scott

Lisa McMichael Maggiano's Little Italy

Orange Theory Fitness

Rob Powers

Ronke Osibajo

Rooftop Cinema Club

Royal Sonesta

Ruby's House

Stephanie Guillot

STV

TEI Planning + Design

The Astros Foundation

The Burger Joint

Total Wine

Trader Joe’s

Twin Liquors Fine Wine & Spirits

UES

William Price Distilling

Thank you!

Young

Congratulations WTS Houston Scholarship Winners

TRANSPORTATION YOU SCHOLARSHIP

Madison Ferow

Senior

Katy High School

SHARON D. BANKS MEMORIAL UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP

Claire Dean

Undergraduate, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Rice University

MOLITORIS LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP FOR UNDERGRADUATE

Alexis Howard

Undergraduate, Supply Chain Management, University of Houston - Downtown

JANNET WALKER-FORD LEADERSHIP LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP

Sania Pirouzi

Graduate, Transportation Management and Planning

Texas Southern University

HELENE M. OVERLY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Musfira Rahman

Ph.D. Candidate, Civil Engineering

Texas A&M University

DEC ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

Alejandra Jimenez

Undergraduate, Civil Engineering and Environmental Studies

Rice University

Congratulations WTS Houston Award Recipients

YOUNG ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

Yanfen Zhou, P.E., PTOE, PTP Project Manager, Pape Dawson Engineers

MEMBER OF THE YEAR

Courtney Blechle, AICP Principal Environmental Planner, HNTB

INNOVATIVE TRANSPORTATION

METRO’s New FutureLink Service METRO

EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR Jacobs

HONORABLE RAY LAHOOD AWARD

T. Wayne Holcombe Partner, Gradient

WOMAN OF THE YEAR

Kimberly Williams, JD Chief Innovation Officer, METRO

WTS HOUSTON SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

TRANSPORTATION YOU SCHOLARSHIP

Madison Ferow

Madison is a senior at Katy High School seeking a major in Engineering at both Texas State University or Texas A&M University. Madison is the youngest of four children and come from a household with a single mom. She is a strong believer in Christ and gives all the glory to Him for where she is today. She hopes to make a difference as a woman in the STEM community and continues expanding her knowledge with every experience. She says she is beyond honored to receive this award and cannot express how impactful it will be towards her college career.

SHARON D. BANKS MEMORIAL

UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP

Claire Dean

Claire is a junior at Rice University majoring in civil and environmental engineering. On campus, she is active in student life as president of American Society of Civil Engineers, peer career advisor at Lovett Residential College, and music director of Rice Nocturnal Acapella. Upon graduation, Claire plans to pursue a career in transportation engineering, working to design equitable, accessible, and safe transportation systems that bring people together and connect them to where they need to go.

WTS HOUSTON SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

MOLITORIS LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP FOR UNDERGRADUATE

Alexis Howard

Alexis is currently enrolled at the University of HoustonDowntown majoring in Supply Chain Management. She is an active member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honor Society, and a Ted Bauer Scholar. She is a Houston native and works part-time for a local transportation company. After graduation, she plans to enroll in a graduate program and begin her career as a logistics manager for a shipping company.

Sania Pirouzi

Sania is currently in her third semester studying Transportation Management and Planning at Texas Southern University. She has a bachelor's degree in urban planning and a master's degree in urban design . Sania works as a research assistant in the Department Of Transportation at TSU. Her previous research involves using space syntax to assess safety in public areas. Currently, she focuses on studying bicycle driver behavior. She is a member of ITE and WTS and enjoys watching historical and geographic documentaries in her free time.

JANNET WALKER-FORD LEADERSHIP

LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP

WTS HOUSTON SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

HELENE M. OVERLY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Musfira Rahman

Musfira is a Ph.D. candidate studying Civil Engineering at Texas A&M University, where her focus on transportation engineering is not just an academic pursuit, but a drive to find real-world solutions to the transportation challenges of today. Originally from Dhaka, Bangladesh, her early experiences in one of the world's most congested cities laid the foundation for her passion in this field. With a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Musfira's academic excellence was evident early on. Her research into sustainable waste management strategies led to a significant reduction of heavy metal content in medical fly ash, demonstrating her innovative approach to traditional problems.

DEC ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

Alejandra Jimenez

Alejandra Jimenez is a junior at Rice University pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering with a minor in Environmental Studies. Originally from Valencia, Venezuela, she moved to the US 10 years ago, and her cultural background has significantly shaped her perspective. Alejandra relied on a car for transportation throughout much of her life until she enrolled at Rice University. Moving to a new city and not having a car to rely on led her to explore various modes of transportation in Houston, thus sparking her passion for multimodal solutions within urban environments. She contributes her skills and leadership as the Secretary of the Rice ASCE student chapter and as a subteam lead for the Rice EWB chapter.

WTS HOUSTON SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

YOUNG ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

Yanfen Zhou, P.E., PTOE, PTP

Yanfen is a Traffic Project Manager with Pape Engineers. She has nine years of experience in traffic engineering and transportation planning. Her expertise includes traffic operational analysis, traffic safety analysis, access management studies, traffic simulation studies (microscopic, mesoscopic, and macroscopic), planning and environmental linkage studies, transportation management plan studies, and travel demand modeling. She is an author and co-author on several publications and technical reports for the Transportation Research Board, Institute of Transportation Engineers, Oregon DOT and TxDOT. Her work to develop NCHRP Report 715 was used to implement the 1st edition of the AASHTO Highway Safety Manual.

MEMBER OF THE YEAR

Courtney Blechle, AICP

Courtney joined the WTS Houston Chapter in 2016. Her journey to Director of Programs started when she volunteered to assist the hospitality committee and then as Programs Chair. Under her leadership and vision, our program attendance has grown. This, in part, is due to her collaboration with Chapter members and other organizations in the Houston region, including the American Planning Association (APA), Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) and the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE). These events bring unique programming to our members and allows us to reach potential new members.

WTS HOUSTON

SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

METRO’s New FutureLink Service

EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR

WTS HOUSTON SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

HONORABLE RAY LAHOOD AWARD

T. Wayne Holcombe

T. Wayne Holcombe is a well-known and highly respected professional in the civil infrastructure industry. As a transportation planner, he has participated in projects that improved transportation infrastructure at the municipal and state level. His career has focused on client/business development strategies for several high-profile transportation, water, building and environmental projects across North America. As an experienced professional and leader at Gradient Group, T. Wayne is an effective catalyst for positive change for the advancement of women in the industry.

WOMAN OF THE YEAR

Kimberly Williams, JD

Ms. Williams is the Chief Innovation Officer for the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County in Houston, Texas (METRO). She leads METRO’s research and demonstration of connected and automated vehicles for public transit use. She is committed to connecting underserved communities in Houston. She led the implementation of Houston’s first Autonomous Vehicle (AV) shuttle service, FutureLINK, which will be deployed in Houston’s Third Ward. This is an outstanding contribution to the Houston Region, and the project was celebrated as tonight’s Innovative Transportation Solutions award winner.

2024 GALA PARTNER

WOMAN OF THE YEAR SPONSOR

SIGNATURE ANNIVERSARY HOSTS

SIGNATURE ANNIVERSARY HOSTS

TRAILBLAZER SPONSORS

ADVOCATE SPONSORS

ADVOCATE SPONSORS

PARTNER SPONSORS

ALLY SPONSORS

LOOKING BACK AT 20 YEARS

LOOKING BACK AT 20 YEARS

LOOKING BACK AT 20 YEARS

LOOKING BACK AT 20 YEARS

LOOKING BACK AT 20 YEARS

LOOKING BACK AT 20 YEARS

LOOKING BACK AT 20 YEARS

Thank You for your support & for 20 amazing years!