Lyles College students receive scholarships from engineering council

The American Council of Engineering Companies of California announced the recipients of its 2024-25 Scholarship Foundation awards. Of the 13 scholarship recipients, four are from the Lyles College of Engineering at Fresno State.

The foundation awards annual scholarships to accomplished graduate or undergraduate college students working toward engineering or land surveying degrees. Undergraduate students Joseph Brooks, Elias Fierro and Katlin Rowley of the geomatics engineering program, and graduate student Muhammad Zulfiqar Aijaz of the electrical and computer engineering program, will receive their scholarships at the beginning of the fall 2024 semester.

“Industry-sponsored scholarships, such as from American Council of Engineering Companies, play an integral role for students in the Lyles College of Engineering,” said Dr. Brad Hyatt, associate dean of the Lyles College. “Not only do the scholarships allow students to meet their financial obligations, but they also recognize the students’ dedication to their discipline. These scholarships are truly an honor for the recipients.”

In total, the American Council of Engineering Companies of California awarded $70,500 in scholarship funds. This year’s scholarship recipients demonstrated notable achievement in their respective areas of study and a strong interest in pressing policy issues facing California.

Recipients include students who have their professional engineering license, engineer in training, or land surveyor in training designation, participate in clubs like Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society and have employment in California consulting engineering firms.

Students also have the opportunity to receive additional scholarships from the American Council of Engineering Companies National.

“Receiving this scholarship shows that these companies have a belief in me, and, through this money, they are supporting my journey, and they want me to be in their league someday,” Rowley said.

Rowley has been enrolled in the geomatics engineering program for two years. She hopes to one day own her own company with her sister, who is a civil engineer, to provide civil and surveying services.

She recently passed the fundamentals of surveying test on her first attempt, bringing her a step closer to fulfilling her dream.

“This year has been incredible and it’s amazing to have the support from the American Council of Engineering Companies of California and the professors here in the college,” Rowley said .

Rowley served as the scholarships and donations chair for the annual Geomatics Engineering Conference earlier this year. She said she took on the role because she loves seeing the excitement from students when they get those scholarships and seeing the impact of that on their lives.

“I would encourage any student who is thinking about applying for scholarships to do it because anything is possible,” Rowley said.