FIRST Clarke Scholarship Winner Visits ASME

Mel Torre
ASME Communications

Each year, the ASME Foundation and ASME Auxiliary team up to recognize high school students whose experience at the National FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Championships has inspired an interest in pursuing a career in engineering.

Polina Danilyuk, a 2007 graduate of Stuyvesant High School in New York City, was one of this year's nine recipients of the ASME FIRST Clarke Scholarship. She received her $5,000 award during her recent visit to ASME Headquarters in Manhattan. The scholarship will be applied to her first year of studies at Cornell University, where she will pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.

Warren Leonard, executive director of the ASME Foundation (left) and Tom Loughlin, ASME deputy executive director, present Polina Danilyuk with a book about mechanical engineering landmarks during her visit to ASME headquarters last month.

"I was born in Minsk, Belarus, and my mother and I immigrated to the U.S. in 1997. Leading up to high school, I spent a lot of time reading to catch up on my English skills," said Danilyuk. When she arrived at Stuyvesant H.S., she immediately gravitated toward English and foreign language programs, while keeping a keen interest in fantasy fiction movies and Formula 1 car racing. On her first day, she also discovered the robotics team when someone came up to her, handed her some tools, and said, "Here, build a cart that propels itself," … and she did.

"What I love about engineering is the fact that it is a team sport. All the things that I loved about writing poetry and reading fantasy … all the creating and passion that people exhibited for their art … could be found in the robotics lab," said Danilyuk.

ASME has partnered with FIRST since 1996, in its mission to design accessible, innovative programs that build not only science and technology skills and interests, but also self-confidence, leadership, and life skills. "Our goal is to create a world where science and technology are celebrated ... where young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes," said Dean Kamen, founder of FIRST. Kamen has been nominated to receive the ASME Medal for "eminently distinguished engineering achievement" at the 2007 Congress in Seattle, Nov. 11–15.

The ASME Foundation/ASME Auxiliary FIRST Clarke Scholarship is funded by the bequest of Lucille V. Clarke, and that of her parents, ASME Honorary Member Charles W.E. Clarke and Lucy Clarke.

Find out more about the FIRST Clarke Scholarship and other activities of the ASME Foundation, including how you can contribute to the ASME-Virginia Tech Memorial Scholarship Fund, by visiting the Foundation Web Site at http://foundation.asme.org.

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