Scholarship / Why is your field of study important today? [3]

Why do you feel your field of study is important in today's society? Detail what inspired you to select this field of study as your professional aspiration and how will your field of study contribute to your short and long term goals. Required, 500 words or less.

"The engineer has always been, and is, a maker of history." No other field of study has shaped the last 200 years as much as engineering. The automobile, the telephone and the space shuttle are all influential innovations that would not have been possible without engineers. Mechanical engineering has always been concerned with figuring out new ways to solve problems. I am fascinated by the works of engineers over the years, and I want to be a part of this profession at the cutting edge of technology.

Mechanical engineering is one of the oldest disciplines of engineering, as evident from technical innovations throughout history. From Archimedes who designed a device to help farmers irrigate previously barren land to Ma Jun who created the first navigational system in 250 AD, pioneers have been building increasingly more sophisticated devices to improve the quality of life for their generation. Even today, mechanical engineers continue to push the boundaries of possibilities to make lives easier. They also try to predict future challenges to solve tomorrow's problems today. For example, engineers in the automobile company Tesla are currently developing renewable energy storage that would be useful in the future. Engineers provide creative approaches to old problems with new ideas.

It is this creative problem solving that first drew me to mechanical engineering. I have always been an avid gamer. Growing up, I spent hours playing Tetris on my Gameboy, trying to clear row after row of falling blocks. I eventually moved on to harder and more complex games, but I still enjoyed the puzzling challenges they presented. Mechanical engineering offers similar opportunity for me to apply my analytical prowess to provide innovative solutions to challenging problems. Coupled with my love for Mathematics and Physics, Mechanical Engineering seemed like the most logical career choice for me.

In the short term, my field of study allows me to apply for a position as an undergraduate research assistant. Working as a Research Assistant lets me assist professors on their research experiments, building experience, technical skills and professional connections along the way. In the long term, my career as a Mechanical Engineer allows me to fulfill my dream of opening the first ever Makerspace in Nigeria. A Makerspace is a community-operated workplace that offers high-end production equipment like 3D printers and laser cutters to regular people at little to no cost. It is a meeting place for like-minded individuals to discuss and partake in the technological revolution. There is lack of interest in technology in Africa because of poor educational infrastructure and I believe that a Makerspace would help remedy these problems by providing resources for anyone interested.

Engineers have left an immeasurable impact on the world today and their influence is quickly spreading beyond this world and into the near future. Furthermore, my love for challenging problems inspires me to become a mechanical engineer, and I believe if I get this scholarship, I would give back to my community through my Makerspace.

Scholarship / Most significant endeavor since attending community college (Public Speaking) [4]

Describe your most significant endeavor since attending community college in which you applied your academic or intellectual skills learned through your community college education to benefit your school, community or society.

Public Speaking Class

In the summer of 2015, I had to make a persuasive presentation for my Public Speaking class. This was just after the first Republican Debate on Fox News and the presidential campaign cycle was in full swing, so I initially chose to speak on the coming elections and convince my classmates on the importance of voting. Though I am not an American citizen, I've always been fascinated by differences between Nigerian and American politics. Furthermore, my interest in the American electoral process grew even stronger during my American Government class the previous semester. However, after doing some preliminary research, I found out that Fairburn, the city in which my college campus is situated, had an upcoming city council election two weeks from the date of the proposed speech. I decided to switch gears and focus instead on the council elections.

I began my speech process by handing out questionnaires to my classmates to gauge how much they know or participate in their local politics. I found out that less than half of my classmates who were eligible to vote had actually voted in the presidential elections, even fewer had voted in the gubernatorial elections, and almost none had ever voted in local councils. Most of them thought that local government was irrelevant because it had no power to affect their daily lives. I tailored my speech to inform my classmates of the many roles and responsibilities of the local city council and ways to become more active in their community.

I gave my speech to about 25 students in my speech class, where it was well received by both the instructor and my classmates, but I still wanted to get my message out to a wider audience. As a member of the Student Government Association, I saw an opportunity to piggyback on an upcoming open-mic to make my address. I realized that a speech urging college students to go out and vote might seem out of place among poetry readings, freestyle raps and musical duets, but I knew that if I gave an engaging speech, people would listen.

On the day of the open-mic, about 80 students showed up to listen to the various presentations from students and staff. My speech went off without a hitch, and after I was done I fielded questions from students who wanted some more information. I do not know how many of those students actually attended their council meeting or voted in the November elections, but I would like to think that I encouraged maybe a few to take control of their future by participating in local politics.

Scholarship / Brief biography and what motivates you (250 or less) [4]

In your own words, provide a brief biography that outlines your significant life events or experiences to give the judges a broader understanding of what motivates you. This also helps judges better understand where you come from, what you are currently doing, and what you hope to accomplish in the future. Type your biography in the text box below using 250 words or less.

I was born into an African family as the first son, a great position that comes with great responsibility. I grew up knowing I would eventually become the head of my family, so I have always been very protective of them. An early incident that strengthened my love for family was a bomb-blast that separated me from my family at the tender age of 7. Several high-caliber bombs had been accidently detonated on a nearby cantonment, and I was swept away in ensuing stampede of panicked citizens. For 2 days, I was all alone, terrified and unsure of my safety or that of my family. That experience, though scarring, made me realize how important family is and gave me a greater desire to protect and care for them.

I attended one of the most prestigious high schools in the country, where I was a member of the orchestra and the basketball team. After high school, I enrolled in a local university where I met people from different social and economic backgrounds. Though I grew to love my time at the school, the educational system was unfocused and erratic so my parents decided to send me and my siblings to the United States to continue our education. I now hope to use all the skills I've learnt over the years to survive and thrive in this foreign country.