Architectural Engineering student received Thornton Tomasetti Scholarship
Friday, May 15, 2020
Kennedy Stephens, a fifth-year architectural engineering student in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology’s School of Architecture program was recently awarded a $10,000 Thornton Tomasetti Foundation Scholarship.
Since 2012, the Thornton Tomasetti Foundation has awarded three $10,000 scholarships per academic year to students pursuing a master’s degree in structural or architectural engineering with an interest in the integration of engineering and architecture.
“I knew that there was a low chance of receiving the scholarship since it is open to colleges nation-wide, but with the help of Professor Bilbeisi and the staff at the School of Architecture I felt like I had a good chance when I applied,” Stephens said.
In his congratulatory letter to Stephens, Richard Tomasetti, Chairperson of the Thornton Tomasetti Foundation, said the foundation received scholarship submissions from 15 universities. To select scholarship winners, a student’s application is put before a jury of leaders from five Thornton Tomasetti offices. Thornton Tomasetti is an engineering consulting firm with more than 50 offices that provides engineering design, investigation and analysis to clients worldwide.
The goal of the foundation’s scholarship is to offer financial support for an individual who endeavors to make an impact on the structural design of buildings.
“While at Oklahoma State University, Kennedy proved herself to be a conscientious design student,” said Professor Suzanne Bilbeisi, head of the School of Architecture. “Her projects were always well thought out; she evaluated her own work and saw where improvements were needed, which made her an ideal design student.”
Bilbeisi continued, saying that Stephens was a serious student from the beginning, maintaining a 4.0 grade point average throughout her time at OSU.
“After graduating and becoming a licensed engineer, I hope to work with architects and help them integrate structure so that it emphasizes their design,” Stephens said. “This could possibly mean finding news ways to conceal, minimize or redirect the structure so that the design is well integrated into the architectural expression while also keeping the building occupants safe.”
Stephens said that will the aid of this scholarship she will be pursing a master’s degree in structural engineering from the University of Texas at Austin starting in the fall.
MEDIA CONTACT: Dakota Keith | CEAT Marketing | 405-744-1292 | dakota.keith@okstate.edu