MACON – Mercer University School of Engineering rising junior Christy Lee was recently awarded the Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
Lee will receive full tuition, an annual stipend and additional allowances while at Mercer for each year she commits to working for the DoD after graduation. She will also participate in a summer research internship and be paired with a mentor at Robins Air Force Base, one of the scholarship program’s sponsoring facilities.
“This is a significant accomplishment for Christy, and we are proud of her for being selected for this prestigious and highly competitive scholarship award,” said Dr. Laura Lackey, dean of the School of Engineering.
Lee, from Warner Robins, is participating in the School of Engineering’s 4+1 Master of Science in Engineering program that allows her to earn both bachelor’s and master’s degrees over five years of study.
She plans to earn her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering with a minor in biology, as well as her master’s degree in environmental engineering.
Upon completion of her master’s degree, Lee will work at Robins Air Force Base in the 78th Civil Engineering Group. She ultimately plans to pursue a career working toward solving the affordable housing crisis.
“I am so grateful to be a recipient of the SMART Scholarship,” said Lee. “It provides me with the time to focus on studying and research throughout the remainder of my degree. I would not have been able to receive this scholarship without the encouragement and support of Dr. Andre Butler, Dr. Natalia Cardelino and Dr. Kleio Avrithi.”
At Mercer, Lee is an alto in the women’s chamber choir, plays tenor saxophone in the marching band and is the incoming vice president of the University’s chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers. She has been named to the dean’s list and is a Presidential Scholarship recipient.
The SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program was established as a concentrated effort to enhance the DoD workforce with talented, innovative and brilliant scientists, engineers and researchers. For more than a decade, SMART Scholars have been working within labs and agencies of the Army, Navy, Air Force and additional DoD units to support the warfighter and create an impact to secure our nation.
About the School of Engineering
Mercer University’s School of Engineering, founded in 1985, offers innovative and academically challenging programs that provide students with a comprehensive education, featuring a solid foundation in mathematics and sciences, a core engineering curriculum, a range of courses in engineering specialties and a strong emphasis on communication technologies. The School is consistently ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top three master’s-degree-level engineering schools in the Southeast. Known for its breadth of instruction in its undergraduate program and its five-year joint bachelor’s and master’s degree program, the School combines technical education with hands-on laboratory experience. Mercer engineers can look forward to joining fellow alumni in companies such as Robins Air Force Base, Mercer Engineering Research Center, Northrop Grumman, Georgia Power, Manhattan Associates and Gulfstream Aerospace.
