During my first year at Virginia Tech, I have learned about my passion for innovating

change through service. After attending an Engineers Without Borders conference in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin in October, my undeniable desire was evoked. At the conference, I was surrounded by
numerous students and professionals from around the world who made service to others their
livelihood. My parents are from Cameroon, an underdeveloped country, that was the catalyst for
my Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) dream to better the lives of the
less fortunate. I want to integrate mechanical engineering and service to implement innovative
and efficient devices globally. My dreams can foster, by engaging with the organizations and
opportunities on campus provided through the Division of Student Affairs.

TEAM Malawi is a partnership organization between Virginia Tech, Radford University

and the Carilion Clinic. It consists of a team of faculty and students that plan community-level
development projects in Malawi through Technology, Education, Advocacy and Education
(TEAM). In 2017, TEAM Malawi started as a student organization in which I serve as the Event
Coordinator. Our current focus TEAM Malawi is working on how exactly we wish to foster our
relationship with Malawi and the most effective way of aiding the country through the help of
TEAM Malawi. In my role, I am planning a meet and greet for faculty and students to learn more
about the club and get involved. In addition, students from the Malawi University of Science and
Technology are visiting later in the month of December. I am planning an event for students and
faculty to come to learn about the best way to aid them.

My work with DSA organizations also extends to Engineers Without Borders, a non-
profit humanitarian organization that partners with underdeveloped countries to engineer
innovative, effective devices to improve their quality of life. I have aided the club in getting
funding for the JUMP campaign, orchestrating a Kroger rewards program for the chapter, and
getting essential materials for the general assembly meetings. Currently, I am involved in
Virginia Tech’s Student Chapter of Engineers without Borders as a Uganda project team
member. The Uganda project team is building solar panels in two schools in Uganda called
Nazareth and Saint Joseph’s. Currently, the team is working to complete a pre-implementation
report for a trip to Uganda coming up in August.

Additionally, my participation includes the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), a not-

for-profit organization with the moto, “Stimulate women to achieve full potential in careers as
engineers and leaders”. I serve as the Community Outreach Chair in the organization. The duties
of my position include reaching out to local organizations and giving SWE members a platform
for service to the community. Currently, I am preparing service events for SWE members to
complete after winter break such as the Big Event and Women’s preview weekend.

My involvement with socially impactful organizations also extends into my research. I

am working on a research project with Dr. Andre Muelenaer to build a non-electric IV pump. Dr.
Muelenar has spent the last two years prototyping and altering the design and my work will
complete the finals details that impact its safety and usability. Next, I am currently working on a
research project to build a non-electric IV pump. The project is set to be implemented in Uganda,
but it can be useful for other communities as well, such as Puerto Rico, which currently has a
rate of fifty percent of electricity.
 I hope my work and passion for socially conscious projects and connecting with Hokies on
campus shines through. A scholarship from the Division of Student Affairs could truly enhance
my commitment to leadership opportunities. Currently, I have a four-hour commitment per week
towards pursuing scholarships in terms of researching applications, applying for scholarships and
reviewing applications. If this obligation was partially alleviated through receiving a scholarship,
I could place more time and energy into pursuing my current leadership opportunities.
In conclusion, If I was honored to receive a scholarship within the Division of Student
Affairs, my future after Virginia Tech would be enhanced. With less debt, I would be enabled to
further pursue my lifelong dream of being an entrepreneur sooner. Overall, The Division of
Student Affairs would enable me to continue to live a livelihood of service after Virginia Tech.