Congratulations to University of Florida students Megan McGinley, Eleftheria Kontou and Yinan Zhang for receiving scholarships from WTS Central Florida and WTS South Florida.
Frankee Hellinger Undergraduate Scholarship, 2016 (WTS Central Florida): Megan McGinley
Megan McGinley graduated from UF with a B.S. in civil engineering during the 2015-2016 school year. She is now attending UF as a 1st year graduate student, working towards her M.S. in civil engineering with a transportation focus. She also works as a graduate assistant for UFTI’s McTrans Center, where she provides software testing for Highway Capacity Software (HCS) and assists programmers in implementing calculations for analyses specified in the Highway Capacity Manual. This coming fall she will continue working in this position and will also be a teaching assistant for Bill Sampson’s Highway Capacity Analysis course.
“I feel extremely honored to have won this scholarship and it inspires me to continue putting forth my best work in the field of transportation,” she said. “It gives me a great sense of support from WTS because I know the organization sees my commitment to shaping the future of transportation.”
McGinley currently serves as the Treasurer of the WTS Florida Gator Student Chapter. She has been a member of WTS since 2014 and served in several positions such as recruitment chair, vice-president, and president.
Frankee Hellinger Graduate Scholarship Winner, 2015 (WTS Central Florida): Eleftheria Kontou
Eleftheria Kontou is a 3rd year Ph.D. candidate, working under Yafeng Yin, Ph.D., a transportation professor at UFTI. Her research focuses on planning for the socially optimal transition from conventional to all-electric vehicle technologies. One of her research’s objectives is to minimize the societal cost of this electrification process. Currently, she is working towards proposing socially optimal incentives for battery electric vehicles. She has also developed models that minimize society’s cost while operating transitory technologies like plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
“My involvement with WTS is very rewarding,” she explained. “I get many opportunities to network with transportation professionals, contribute to important causes, and develop my leadership skills. I am honored to receive this award from the WTS Central Florida Professional Chapter.”
Kontou currently serves as the Vice President of the WTS Florida Gator Student Chapter.
Helene M. Overly Memorial Scholarship, 2016: (WTS South Florida), Yinan Zheng
Yinan Zheng is a 3rd year Ph.D. candidate in the transportation program at UF working under Lily Elefteriadou, Ph.D, professor and UFTI/STRIDE director. Yinan continues to serve as the WTS Florida Gator Student Chapter’s website chair. Yinan is very active in the WTS Florida Gator Student Chapter at the University of Florida and has conducted research funded by the Florida Department of Transportation. Her work has been published in well-known transportation academic journals such as Simulation Modeling Pricing and Theory and the Transportation Research Board, including the American Society of Civil Engineers.
WTS Florida Gator Student Chapter
The objective of the WTS at the University of Florida is to establish a college-based student community focusing on advancing women in transportation through professional workshops, networking, and community service. As an active student and young professionals group, their goal is to continue serving the community and reaching out to UF students and professionals with an interest in transportation. Visit the WTS student chapter page at http://www.wtsinternational.org/centralflorida/wtsufannouncements/ and “Like” their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/WTS-UF-Student-Chapter/197365740303159 to learn more.
WTS International
Founded in 1977, WTS is an international organization dedicated to building the future of transportation through the global advancement of women. Boasting more than 5,000 members–both women and men–WTS is helping women find opportunity and recognition in the transportation industry. Through its professional activities, networking opportunities, and unparalleled access to industry and government leaders, WTS is turning the glass ceiling into a career portal.