Cheyenne Stowers, a master’s student in the Zachry Department of Civil Engineering at Texas A&M University, recently received a fellowship from the Environmental Engineers of the Future program. The purpose of the program is to encourage students to obtain a master’s degree and increase the number of talented professionals with advanced degrees practicing in the United States. The fellowship provides funding for students who attend outstanding environmental engineering programs across the country in return for a commitment to a two-year employment with one of eight participating engineering companies after graduation.
As an undergraduate student at Texas A&M, Stowers was heavily involved with Engineers Without Borders (EWB). Stowers was a project leader for EWB in her final two years as an undergraduate, where she led a trip to Los Chaguites, Nicaragua. The primary goal was to improve the water quality conditions in the community. The current project in Los Chaguites built upon this and is now implementing a process for the community to produce its own chlorine to disinfect its water.
Stowers was also involved with research as an undergraduate when one of her environmental engineering professors introduced her to Dr. Xingmao Ma, associate professor of civil engineering, who she still works with in her master’s program. The research studies how nanoparticles affect biological and physiological processes in plants.
“Most professors are willing to help students get involved in research, which I find to be one of the best aspects of going to Texas A&M,” said Stowers. “Being a part of a research group really helps challenge you and makes you a better engineer.”
The award provides up to $10,000 for tuition and living expenses. Stowers will be interviewing with the partnering companies after the completion of her master’s program in 2017.
Contributing author: Ryan Terry