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later obtained a research position at UConn studying nano-
materials. “The internship showed me what I could achieve
by applying my math and science skills to real-
world applications,” she says.
Mary Cole
University of Akron
As a corrosion engineering co-op for BP Amer-
ica, Cole worked on a continuous improvement
project to reduce the internal corrosion of pigging
launchers and receivers for operations in Alaska. She has also
volunteered at ASM Teachers Camps and the ASM Eisen-
man Camp, to “pay it forward.”
Rachel Sylvester
The Ohio State University
After attending the ASM Eisenman Camp in
2010, Sylvester was hooked. She expanded her
materials interests in college, and returns to
ASM Materials Camps as a mentor during the
summer. She would like to pursue a career in
metals testing and consulting.
William & Mary Dyrkacz Scholarships
The William & Mary Dyrkacz Scholarships were estab-
lished in 2011 through a generous contribution from the
couple to the ASM Foundation. Dyrkacz, who was an ASM
Fellow, remembered the scholarships he received when an
undergraduate student at Carnegie Tech from 1939-1942.
Scholarships are awarded to outstanding undergraduate
members of ASM at the junior or senior level who demon-
strate exemplary academic and personal achievements, and
interest and potential in metallurgy or materials science and
engineering. Four scholars were selected this year and will
be presented with a certificate and check for $6000 toward
educational expenses for one academic year.
Thomas Chrobak
University of Wisconsin-Madison
“I am most interested in advancing the mate-
rials industry to a more sustainable future,”
Chrobak says. “My ultimate professional goal is
to work in the R&D sector of the steel industry
to help make it even more efficient in terms of
energy use and recyclability.”
Rachel Martin
University of Alabama at Birmingham
“My goal is to pursue a career in a foundry envi-
ronment as a metallurgist or in the quality control
department,” says Martin. As president of UAB’s
American Foundry Society student chapter, she has
participated in “various casting and casting prep
that has solidified my love of the metal industry.”
Jared Ottmann
University of Wisconsin-Madison
“During an eight-month internship at Mercury
Marine, I worked in the materials lab on projects
including corrosion, failure analysis, and paint
qualification,” Ottmann says. “I really enjoyed the
lab environment and was happy to be in a position that lever-
aged my problem-solving skills.”
Michael Strand
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Every emerging technology has one limit-
ing factor—the availability and understand-
ing of new materials. Once Strand realized
this, there was only one career choice for
him—advanced materials. His work has fo-
cused on III-V semiconductors for photovoltaic applications,
using x-ray diffraction to analyze InGaAs devices.
Outstanding Scholar Awards
The Outstanding Scholar Awards were established to rec-
ognize students who have demonstrated exemplary aca-
demic and personal achievements as well as interest and
potential in metallurgy or materials science and engineer-
ing. The awards are funded by the ASMMaterials Education
Foundation. Three $2000 awards are presented each year.
Mayela Renata Aldaz Cervantes
University of Texas at El Paso
Cervantes began her undergraduate
studies in mechanical engineering, but
switched to metallurgical and materials
engineering after a summer in MIT’s De-
partment of Biological Engineering. Now
her goals are to become a biomedical engineering researcher
and a professor invested in minority outreach programs.
Margaux Balagna
University of Michigan
Balagna became fascinated by polymers
while working in a pharmaceutical research
lab. “After graduation, I’ll be pursuing full-
time jobs in the polymer science and chem-
istry field,” she says. An entrepreneur at
heart, Balagna wants to be in the forefront of commercializing
innovations and discoveries in materials science.
Natalie Briggs
University of Washington
“I am prepared to delve deeper into the
field of nanoscale optoelectronics, par-
tially because of the overwhelming pres-
ence of electronics in society,” says Briggs.
“I hope to achieve a Ph.D. in materials sci-
ence and a career at an R&D company that
focuses on advanced electronic materials and devices.”
Ladish Co. Foundation Scholarship
Established in 2011, the Ladish Co. Foundation Scholar-
ship is awarded to an outstanding undergraduate member of
ASM who has demonstrated exemplary academic and per-
sonal achievements as well as interest and potential in met-
allurgy or materials science and engineering. (Student must
be a Wisconsin resident and must attend a Wisconsin uni-
versity to qualify.) Two scholars were selected this year, and
each will be presented with a certificate and check for $2500
toward educational expenses for one academic year.
ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES •
OCTOBER 2014
38
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