Four VCU Students Selected for SMART Scholarship
Four Virginia Commonwealth University students have received the Department of Defense Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship, a prestigious honor that will allow them to gain hands-on experience at one of over 200 innovative laboratories across the Army, Navy, Air Force and larger Department of Defense.
Lars Axberg, a sophomore studying mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering, Madeline Bataille, a sophomore studying biomedical engineering in the College of Engineering, Tristan Norrgard, a sophomore studying mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering, and Chastyn Smith, a Ph.D. student studying forensic science in the College of Humanities and Sciences, were awarded SMART Scholarships.
“I am honored and ecstatic to have received this award,” Smith said.
The scholarship provides students with full tuition for up to five years, mentorship, summer internships, a stipend and full-time employment with the Department of Defense after graduation. During summer internships, SMART scholars work directly with an experienced mentor, gaining valuable technical skills.
“I am extremely grateful to have been given this great opportunity,” Axberg said. “It’s an excellent way to put my skills to the test in the real world with the guidance of an experienced mentor, while also working on projects that can benefit society. None of this would be possible without the support from my professors, particularly Charles Cartin and Manika Avasthi, and my parents.”
The SMART Scholarship helps affirm the Department of Defense’s commitment to developing the nation’s STEM talent. The DOD is the largest employer of federal scientists and engineers with nearly 150,000 civilian STEM employees.
DOD STEM activities support this mission by providing authentic learning experiences through a variety of education and outreach initiatives, such as the SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program. For more than a decade, SMART has trained a highly-skilled STEM workforce that competes with the evolving trends of industry to support the next generation of science and technology.
VCU’s National Scholarship Office (NSO) assists students and recent alumni with the application process for esteemed national and international awards. To learn more about external funding opportunities, schedule an appointment with a member of the NSO staff.
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