Kristen Wyckoff, a doctoral student in civil and environmental engineering, is the first recipient of the Susan E. Stutz-McDonald Scholarship.
The scholarship was created in honor of Stutz-McDonald—who had a love of the environment, engineering, and UT, her alma mater. It will be awarded annually to a deserving graduate-level female engineering student with a primary focus in environmental or wastewater engineering.
“I completely identified with Susan’s mission and goals,” said Wyckoff. “My research interests include water and wastewater treatment, storm runoff, and microbiology of water runoff, which all fit in well with her career and environmental focus.”
Wyckoff, a native of Sturgis, Michigan, and Savannah, Georgia, plans to continue her studies as an environmental researcher upon graduation.
Stutz-McDonald succumbed to Hodgkins lymphoma in 2005. Her sister, Sally Stutz Baker, and colleagues formed the Susan E. Stutz-McDonald Scholarship Foundation shortly thereafter. The foundation provides scholarships to female students in environmental engineering at various universities around the country.
After raising funds for a decade, the foundation awarded its first major endowment—$125,000—to UT in 2015.
“This is a great way to acknowledge Susan’s contributions, honor her legacy, and help the next generation of female engineers,” said Baker. “Kristen is a great example of all three of those things, and a perfect choice for this scholarship.”
As part of a celebration of the scholarship, Wyckoff was able to meet Baker and Stutz-McDonald’s daughters recently and give them a tour of some of UT’s facilities.
A native of Chattanooga, Stutz-McDonald graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1972 before coming to UT, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1976.
After earning her master’s from Oregon State University, Stutz-McDonald joined Carollo Engineers in San Francisco, eventually becoming the first female board member in the company’s history.
Graduating at a time when only 2 percent of fellow graduates in engineering were female, she blazed a path in the industry and mentored other female engineers. The scholarship extends the legacy of her support for women engineers.
“I am incredibly thankful and honored to have received the first scholarship in her name,” said Wyckoff. “I hope that I can continue her legacy and help mentor and inspire young women in engineering.”
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CONTACT:
David Goddard (865-974-0683, david.goddard@utk.edu)