August, 10, 2020

Two Woodruff School undergraduate students were recently named bp Scholars. The bp Scholars Program is open to college freshman, sophomores and juniors, and provides awardees with $5,000 towards their tuition. Along with financial support, awardees Jasmine Chrisp and Andrew Hintzman will have the opportunity to meet with industry leaders and ambassadors and visit a bp office to learn more about the company’s culture and work environment.

Both students took the time to answer some questions about their path to Georgia Tech, the organizations they’ve been involved with, and what they hope to accomplish before they graduate.

Why did you choose Georgia Tech, and mechanical engineering as a major?
I have attended engineering summer camps at Georgia Tech since middle school, and I fell in love with the campus over the years. When I was choosing a college, I wanted to be sure that I felt at home, and Georgia Tech met that priority. I have known for a long time that I wanted to pursue engineering as a career, but I was unsure of exactly what I wanted to do within the field. That is why I chose mechanical engineering. This major is so versatile and flexible which has allowed me to branch out into my areas of interest.

What impact will the scholarship have on you?
This scholarship will remove a huge financial burden from my parents and I. We have had to take out a loan in the past, and this scholarship will be a big part of not having to take out another one.

What activities are you involved in at Tech?
I am a member of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), and I volunteer at their events as often as I can. This past year, I was also a co-leader for a 1st-year girl’s Bible study with the Navigators, and I am currently a tutor at the Office of Minority Educational Development (OMED).

Do you have a favorite memory or experience from your time here so far?
I am split between two experiences at Georgia Tech. The first experience was the Challenge program hosted by OMED. Because of it I was better prepared for some of my classes going in, and I met a lot of new students as well. Challenge allowed me to get connected on campus early and be plugged into the African American community on campus, which was important to me. The second would be my study abroad experience. I was fortunate enough to attend the Oxford Study Abroad program during the summer of 2019, and I loved it! Not only did I meet friends that I communicate and attend classes with, but as a young adult, I was free to further explore what we learned in the classroom and shape my own experience exploring the culture. I loved the experience so much that it has encouraged me to look into opportunities that will allow me to go back and live in England.

Is there anything you want to accomplish in your remaining years at Georgia Tech?
I would love to take better advantage of the Flowers Invention Studio. It is an incredible workshop, and it is unlikely that I will have access to such an area in the future, so I would love to better explore what it has to offer.

What path do you plan to pursue after college?
As of now, I am looking into pursuing a master’s degree right after completing my undergraduate degree. Whether this will be through the BSMS program or another program, I am not sure yet. I would also like to take the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam and eventually become a Professional Engineer.

What advice do you have for prospective students or first-year students new to Georgia Tech?
Take advantage of the people and the opportunities around you, both socially and academically. Georgia Tech is filled with diverse people from so many different places and each of them has a story to tell. It is exciting to engage with individuals of diverse cultures and discuss how their experiences are different from mine. I would encourage all prospective students to branch out and try new activities. I was heavily involved in robotics in high school and loved it, but I wanted to try something different in college so I casually tried archery. While I didn’t get heavily involved in it, I had a lot of fun and still participate when time permits. This applies to academics as well. There are SO MANY free tutoring resources on campus. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

Why did you choose Georgia Tech, and mechanical engineering as a major?
I took my first engineering class in middle school. I loved learning how to take different ideas in my head, design them in a CAD platform, and then use those drawings to create real-world parts and assemblies. In addition to my enjoyment of working with my hands, these experiences and others like it helped me decide very early that I wanted to pursue a career in mechanical engineering. 

Choosing to attend Georgia Tech was an easy decision for me. Coming from a family with a background in entrepreneurship, one of the most important factors that drew me to Tech was the culture around challenging limits in efforts of creating the next. Also, in addition to being located in the big vibrant city of Atlanta, Tech was rated highly in my major of mechanical engineering, as well as career exploration and placement.

How did you hear about this scholarship?
I heard about the bp Scholars Program from a number of sources, including friends, family, and the ME Undergrad newsletter.

What impact will the scholarship have on you?
Through this scholarship program, I look forward to networking with professionals from bp to understand where the energy industry is headed, as well as exploring new ways to develop myself and pursue my career goals. Additionally, by lessening my financial burden during this academic year, I'll be able to spend more time and money on a few personal projects. For example, this summer I started designing and fabricating a robot from the ground-up in my spare time while working from home. I look forward to completing this project by leveraging the Invention Studio and my friends at Georgia Tech this upcoming fall.

What activities are you involved in at Tech?
As a member of the Delta Chi fraternity, I've gotten a lot of great opportunities to participate in fun events here on campus, as well as intramurals and service in the city of Atlanta. I have also been involved with two Vertically Integrated Project teams, and enjoy creating parts for personal projects in the Flowers Invention Studio.

Do you have a favorite memory or experience from your time here so far?
My favorite Georgia Tech experience so far has to be homecoming during my freshmen fall. There's so much energy and spirit on campus during homecoming week, and although it can be a lot of hard work, participating in the events with some good friends is a fantastic way to experience a lot of great Tech traditions and history.

Is there anything you want to accomplish in your remaining years at Georgia Tech?
In addition to pursuing another internship, I hope to study abroad at Georgia Tech Lorraine in France. Also, based on the experiences and projects I completed during my last internship, I would enjoy the opportunity to continue to explore generative design techniques.

What path do you plan to pursue after college?
I am currently applying for the BS/MS Program through the Woodruff School here at Georgia Tech in efforts of achieving my Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering. Afterwards, I plan to pursue a career in the energy or automotive industries with a long-term goal of entrepreneurship. To achieve these plans, I hope to return to Tech in the future and earn an MBA.

What advice do you have for prospective students or first-year students new to Georgia Tech?
The four-year period (five if you're lucky) you spend as a student is a really unique time to meet new people and share a lot of exciting experiences. Good grades and internships are always going to be important, but make sure you're setting aside time to have fun, do the things you enjoy, and explore the beautiful city of Atlanta. You'll get a lot more out of your college experience and make memories that will last a lifetime!