GCSP in the News

Students in Arizona State University’s Grand Challenges Scholars Program prepare to address global concerns through competencies that impart an ability to see the big picture, consider all aspects of a problem and create value for society. In Fall 2021, three ASU Grand Challenges Scholars graduated to begin tackling global challenges in health, sustainability, education and more.

Learn more about the Spring 2021 graduating class of Grand Challenges Scholars

Arizona State University Co-Curricular Programs, Industry Collaborate to Produce Commercially Competent Engineers

Learn more about the Fall 2020 graduating class of the Grand Challenges Scholars Program

The Society of Women Engineers has recognized Elizabeth Jones of Arizona State University for her impact on the Society as well as the engineering community with the SWE Outstanding Collegiate Member Award.

Grand Challenges Scholars Program leaders at Arizona State University are working with other GCSP network members to lead the transition to a new community consortium leadership structure and expand how it prepares students to better engineer a complex world.

Maeve Kennedy, a graduate of Westwood High School in Mesa, is a junior majoring in chemical engineering and minoring in Mandarin. She is a Flinn Scholar. Check out what Maeve Kennedy had to say by clicking the link above.

The recent electrical engineering master’s degree graduate from the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University will begin a job as an electrical engineer at Raytheon Missile Systems in June 2019. Check out what Amanda Thart had to say by clicking the link above.

Esther Sim is a Biomedical Engineering major in the Barrett Honors College, Co-President of the Biomedical Engineering Society, and a Grand Challenge scholar who stays actively involved in the Fulton Community. Check out what Esther had to say regarding GCSP, as well as the NAE GCSP Annual Meeting in the link above.

Jairo Ramirez serves in the Next Generation Service Corps and hopes to use his experience to offer assistance to others facing disasters. Check out what Jairo Ramirez had to say by clicking the link above.

Emeritus Professor B.L. Ramakrishna was named Director of the National Academy of Engineering’s Grand Challenges Scholars Program Network. Proctor Reid, NAE’s Director of Programs, said this position was designed to “facilitate the development and expansion” of the Grand Challenge Scholars Program, which he describes as a “powerful educational movement.” Read the full story

Anna Bailey developed an interest in computers at a young age. As her interest grew, she recognized the importance of cyberspace security. Anna learned ways to protect herself online, but what about those who use their computers daily, yet don’t know how to protect themselves? “I chose security as my grand challenge theme to help eliminate the rising number of citizens in society who become victims of those that are misusing technology.”

As a graduating senior, Dallas Sigrist’s journey in the Grand Challenge Scholars Program began when he recevied an invitation to apply for the program as an incoming freshman. Wanting to start off his college career by getting involved with a rewarding program, he applied and was accepted to be part of GCSP.

Kiana Ghazouli, Grand Challenge Scholar and Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, arrived in Nice, France this past July ready to participate in the European Innovation Academy. Innovative ideas for ventures raced through her mind as she prepared for the three-week long summer program.

Frea Mehta is a chemical engineering major in the Barrett Honors College, FURI researcher, and Grand Challenge scholar who stays actively involved in the Fulton community. Despite her full plate, Frea made time to travel to the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) all the way in Heidelberg, Germany. At EMBL, Frea participated in a traineeship under Dr. Matthia Karreman, a post-doctoral fellow at the German lab. After returning from this once-in-a-lifetime trip, Frea shared some of the details of her experience.

A student and several faculty members from the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering’s Grand Challenge Scholars Program represented Arizona State University at the 2016 National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges Scholars Program Annual Meeting in Washington D.C. on Oct. 6-7, 2016.

Held by the National Academy of Engineering, the event sought to lay the foundation for future improvements in the national engineering program.

At the event, Amy Trowbridge, lecturer and director of ASU’s GCSP program, was selected to share best practices from ASU’s program on a small panel. Kaleigh Johnson, a chemical engineering senior, was also invited to represent ASU on a student and alumni panel where she shared how the program shaped her career goals and undergraduate experiences.

Diana Palma has a passion for research. In fact, she chose to attend ASU for the abundance of research opportunities the school offers. As she puts it, “I want to make research and the applications of it to the real world a large part of my college experience and have it influence my career.” Diana’s interest in research began at her high school in Long Beach, California when she and another student participated in a global marine data collection project.

Grand Challenge scholars (pictured left to right), Angel Armenta, Kaleigh Johnson, Kaleia Kramer, and Emily Herring, attended the Global Grand Challenge Summit on September 15-16, 2015 in Beijing, China.

Nine volunteers from GCSA attended the Phoenix Children’s Hospital on Saturday, September 26, 2016 to lead STEM activities for the children’s recreational therapy time.

According to Kevin Tyler, there are three types of people that choose a career in engineering: those who want a high-paying job, those who are good at math and science, and those who genuinely want to change the world. Tyler associates himself as the latter.

As her final days at ASU approach, Heather Martin will be graduating this semester not only having completed all her requirements as a Fulton Engineering student, but also as a Grand Challenge Scholar.