The Botstiber Scholars Program
- Botstiber Scholars On the Move
Botstiber Fellow at the University of New Orleans
Botstiber Scholars On the Move
Nicole Villacorta, Philippines, '10
Every day at Lehigh brought me new challenges, opportunities and excitement. The rigorous academic offering, diversity of clubs and organizations and wealth of research opportunities truly extended the boundaries of the classroom without limit. Through the Botstiber Scholarship, I was granted a great privilege of not only getting a sound education in Civil Engineering, but also opportunities to participate in clubs, projects and internships that supported a wide variety of academic interests. Personally, that included projects that provided environmentally-safe and economically-feasible solutions for community development. Hence, upon graduating from Lehigh, I was thoroughly equipped as an Engineer, Entrepreneur and leader, to pursue a career as diverse as my background. After graduation, I did a marketing and production internship in New York with Womensphere, a media organization dedicated to the advancement of women in leadership and industry, where I interacted with women from different walks of life and realized the impact of partnerships between the corporate world and NGOs. In January of 2011, I received my certificate for passing the Fundamental of Engineering Examinations- the first of two exams to obtain a professional license. Furthermore, I was offered a place in the Global Graduate Development Programme of IMI, an international engineering conglomerate, where I am doing a two-year rotational program, across several disciplines, industries and countries. In my first placement, I was the continuous improvement engineer for Norgren Americas, where I worked directly with leadership teams to assess current business practices, as well as define and measure continuous improvement goals and initiatives to reduce error, increase work efficiency and improve customer satisfaction, across the various Norgren sites in the Americas region. Currently, I am doing my second placement as the Energy Project Manager of IMI, where I am responsible for the timely approval and execution of the energy projects of our top 24 sites globally, in order to reduce our CO2 emissions by 10% by 2012. It has been an amazing experience, especially as I lead and work with many great people from across the organization. God has blessed me with this wonderful journey and as He presses me on forward, I continue to build on the strong character and academic foundation that the Botstiber Scholarship has given me through my Lehigh education.
Luckshitha Liyanage, Sri Lanka, ‘09
My Lehigh University experience was a sound balance between academic achievement and extracurricular activities. In addition, to receiving an outstanding scientific education, Lehigh introduced me to new evolving research fields and provided me with many opportunities to take part in challenging research projects at cutting-edge laboratories and facilities, under the expert supervision of an internationally renowned faculty. The Dietrich W. Botstiber Scholarship further enhanced this positive experience, as it gave me more time to concentrate on my studies without having to worry about financial burdens. Thus, I participated in many activities that broadened my horizons and bolstered my confidence to become a role-model in terms of scholarship, leadership and service. In a nutshell, Lehigh University blessed me with an extraordinary education and gave me the ability to see the world in a whole new perspective.
After graduation, I will attend Stanford University to obtain an advanced degree for further specialization in nanotechnology. Since the conventional CMOS technology is heading towards a brick wall, I am particularly interested in pursuing the emerging fields of carbon nanotubes & Graphene at Stanford University. Given the location of the university in the heart of the Silicon Valley, I hope to make close connections with the industry and make a significant contribution to the advancements of the next generation of devices. Later on, I wish to return to Sri Lanka and promote higher education and scientific research for future generations. The Sri Lankan government recently decided to open its first nanotechnology institute; an advanced degree would enable me to acquire a position there and act as a liaison between the US and Sri Lanka in order to present new opportunities for talented young engineers. Utilizing my connections to US-based industries, I aspire to fund new frontiers of research and launch student exchange programs with foreign companies that would lead to further development of Sri Lankan education system for many years to come.
Ivan Stoev, Macedonia, ‘09
Upon graduation in May 2010, I moved to Stamford, CT, to work as a network software engineer. My colleagues and I are currently developing cutting-edge mobile video broadcasting solutions. It's an exciting area with interesting technical challenges – the perfect place for a Lehigh Engineer!
I always enjoyed my Lehigh experience. However, it was not until I started looking for a job that I realized how invaluable it was. As part of the engineering co-op program, I already had eight months of hands-on experience in software development for the newspaper industry. I had also participated in research projects in the fields of bioinformatics and computer networking. These and many other out-of-the-classroom experiences had helped me grow professionally and personally. The diversity of the international student body (especially our Botstiber Scholars group) was something special—it allowed me to share mine and learn about other students' cultural backgrounds. I came out of Lehigh as a more open-minded and confident individual, ready to step into the real world.
Rajan Khatiwada, Nepal, ’07
After graduation, I spent the summer of 2007 in Japan where my parents were living temporarily. I then moved to New York and started working as an IT advisor for KPMG. My clients since then have been big banks and other companies in the financial services industry. I have found it very interesting to work with them in the course of this recession and have learned quite a bit in the process. I was published in the Martindale publication 'Perspectives on Business and Economics' in November 2007. The ceremony was in New York. In 2008, I continued with KPMG New York, living on the upper west side and loving the city experience. But just as my US visa was soon to expire I was offered a job in the same position in KPMG London. I accepted and moved to London in August 2008.I have been living in London since then. Work is going well and I like London more and more everyday. I have been studying for the CFA (chartered financial analyst) exams and passed level 1 in Jan 2009--two more levels to go. I visited my family in Nepal recently—a trip that reaffirmed my conviction that I want to return one day and do something constructive.