Engineering organization hands out scholarships

The MU Engineering Alumni Organization added $19,000 in scholarships.

By Michelle Hagopian

Published Feb. 1, 2008

Aspiring engineering students in search of scholarships have another reason to celebrate.

According to a news release, the University of Missouri College of Engineering’s Alumni Organization has added $19,000 in scholarships for students.

“The additional money was left over from last year’s scholarship account,” said Nicole Theberge, special events coordinator for the College of Engineering.

Students received aid based on requirements established by MU engineering’s scholarship committee. Academic achievement and financial need were the two major criteria for reward by the committee, the news release stated.

The scholarships are available to all engineering students with the exception of incoming freshmen.

MUEAO gave aid to 13 sophomores, juniors and seniors this academic year.

Andrew Stauffer, one of the scholarship recipients, said he was very grateful to receive the award.

“This scholarship will help pay for books and housing expenses for me,” Stauffer said.

Stauffer is enrolled in the Air Force ROTC program and is a civil engineering major.

After graduation, he plans to commission in the Air Force to be a fighter pilot. He said he hopes to attend graduate school.

The news release said MU engineering granted 665 undergraduate students received scholarships for the 2007-2008 school year. The total grew to $984,600, which led to a 9.3 percent increase from last year.

The College of Engineering hosts several events throughout the year to help engineering students.

“We host an annual golf tournament in September, and all the proceeds go to the engineering scholarship fund,” Theberge said.

In addition, the college invites high school students planning to attend MU to engineering events. One of the main focuses is the role of women in engineering, and female students are strongly encouraged to attend, Theberge said.

She said MUEAO also provides True Tiger memberships to presidents of student organization. MUEAO also offers them discounts to various Columbia businesses.

“MUEAO also sponsors a Citation of Merit luncheon held on March 15 that honors a particular engineering student,” Theberge said. “The recipient has not yet been chosen but the committee is in the process of choosing a winner.”

The Citation of Merit is given to an MU engineering graduate for outstanding achievement and service in engineering, the news release stated. Another award recipient, Michael Ringkamp, appreciated the scholarship for a different reason.

“This scholarship has helped me pay for part of my education, which I am paying a portion of myself,” Ringkamp said. “It has allowed me to work less during the school year and concentrate on school and activities.”

Ringkamp, a senior industrial and manufacturing systems engineer, plans on attending MU graduate school to obtain a master’s degree in business administration from the business school.

He said he wants to pursue a master’s degree in film production, which is a long-time passion of his.

“I am very passionate about working on, with and around films,” Ringkamp said. “I want to be a producer of films, and this scholarship is helping with all of that. Coming out of college with a small amount of debt is possible thanks to this award.”

Ringkamp is a second-time recipient of the MUEAO scholarship.

Douglas Link, a senior engineering student who is from out-of-state, can relate to Ringkamp’s reasoning.

“I’ve received this MUEAO scholarship three years, and it certainly allows me to focus on my studies as opposed to getting a job,” Link said.

He said he plans to take LSAT this summer. He said hopes to pursue patent law.

Theberge said individual donors and organizations contribute to the scholarship fund.

MUEAO also awarded scholarships to Karen Blaha, Russell Borduin, James Bunch, Seth Gundy, Kris Klinkerman, Christopher Lupo, James Patneau, Zachery Steffens, Lee Stevens and Benjamin Yi, the news release stated.