Each year, approximately 1.5 million students apply for the National Merit Scholarship and less than 1 out of every 100 entrants receive the award. The College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) Department of Electrical Engineering and Computing Systems (EECS) warmly welcomes incoming freshmen Jonathan Kenney, Elizabeth Sheetz, Will Tekulve, Andrew Black and Thomas Sullivan to join the 2020 class of engineering visionaries.
These scholars are working toward computer science and computer engineering degrees. Computer scientists design and build computational information processing systems by following scientific theories of computation. Similarly, computer and electrical engineering are the driving forces behind todays high-tech radio, television, radar, transistors, computers and robotics fields.
Jonathan Kenney, an incoming computer science freshman and National Merit Scholar chose the CEAS
computer science program to fully integrate his appreciation and knowledge of robotics, mathematics and computers.
Active in and out of the classroom at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, Kenney dedicated his time to the schools robotics team, the electric jazz orchestra as well as playing keyboard and saxophone in several school musicals, including West Side Story.
Kenney speaks on behalf of his rewarding experiences in robotics as he looks towards future accomplishments at CEAS, Last year my team had the opportunity to strategize and program the robot that landed us a high ranking at the national FIRST (
For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition. It was a challenging, sometimes frustrating, but truly dynamic experience.
Kenney looks forward to extending his residency in his beloved hometown as he embarks on a new chapter with fellow computer science national merit scholars Elizabeth Sheetz and Will Tekulve.
Elizabeth Sheetz, National Merit Scholar and incoming computer science freshman from Sycamore High School also sticks to her Cincinnati roots as she join the newest CEAS class. I am very interested in data science, so computer science was a natural choice for me, she explains.
Sheetz says, I chose UC for three reasons: 1) I felt at home on the campus and as if I would easily fit in, 2) the Cincinnatus Excellence Scholarship allows me to attend a highly rated school while receiving financial relief and security, 3) the integral co-op program offers great opportunities that other schools do not.
Also attracted to the world of mathematics, Sheetz hopes to minor in statistics to strategically accompany her computer science degree. Outside of the classroom, she actively gives back to the community by annually participating in Relay for Life and partaking in summer youth mission trips.
Incoming computer science major and National Merit Scholar, Will Tekulve, also graduated in UCs backyard at Walnut Hills High School. As the founder of two competitive FIRST teams in Walnut Hills, computer science will allow Tekulve to extend his passion for robotics.
Tekulve tells his reaction when finding out the news that he would be a recipient of the Cincinnati Excellence scholarship, I was honestly surprised! I never expected to receive such acknowledgement and validation for all of the hard work I have put in over the last six years.
When deciding to come to UC, Tekulve says, UCs CEAS majors are some of the top in the country and they continue to get better every year. I respect the program and the staff that run it, and I fully believe that I will leave UC with the necessary experience and knowledge to perform well in my field.
Tekulve is eager to be challenged by his major, hoping to push himself to take the fullest advantage of the cutting edge resources offered by the computer science program.
Andrew Black, incoming National Merit scholar and computer engineering freshman from Anderson High School is most excited about entering the schools prestigious cooperative education program to get a head start on his career.
When I began to learn computer programming last year, it felt very natural. I look forward to seeing the kinds of careers computer science will open up for me, says Black.
During his time in high school, Black pursued his love for music by dedicating four years to the marching band and saxophone ensemble. He also participated in several TEAMS (
Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics and Science) competitions, which boosted his interest for solving real-world problems from an engineers viewpoint.
With a long-standing and profound interest in technology and computers, Blacks decision to attend the College of Engineering and Applied Science was positively reinforced upon receiving the Cincinnatus Excellence scholarship.
With their natural interest and determination to improve high demands for state-of-the-art technology and computer systems, these five scholars will surely find their place and great success at CEAS and beyond.
