Wichita State University’s College of Engineering has named the latest group of high school seniors to join the Wallace Scholar program.
The 13 Wallace Scholarship recipients will receive $28,500 each to attend Wichita State for four years. In addition, two students receiving other major university scholarships will be designated as Wallace Scholars.
Wallace Scholars are a community of more than 45 College of Engineering students, representing every class and nearly every major in the college. Wallace Scholars are involved in the College of Engineering, across the Wichita State campus, and in the Wichita community.
Selection for the Wallace Scholarship is based on recipients’ high school GPA, ACT scores, and performance at the annual Wallace Invitational for Scholarships in Engineering (WISE), which was held in November and drew 166 students from 13 states.
The Wallace Scholarship is made possible through the Dwane and Velma Wallace Endowment, created in 1976, which supports scholarships for engineering and computing students and provides funds for the College of Engineering. Since 1980, the endowment has benefited more than 360 engineering and computing majors at Wichita State.
The 2022 Wallace Scholars
- Tyler Bixenman — Circle High School in Wichita — mechanical engineering
- Caden Carlson — Aurora (Nebraska) High School — aerospace engineering
- Cael Fielding — Rock Hill High School in Prosper, Texas — aerospace engineering
- Jordan Manning —Mill Valley High School in Shawnee, Kansas — aerospace engineering
- Brady Martin — Maize (Kansas) High School — electrical engineering
- Olivia O’Reilly — Liberty (Missouri) High School — electrical engineering
- Jack Peterson — Washington Preparatory Academy in Overland Park, Kansas — aerospace engineering
- James Peterson — Washington Preparatory Academy in Overland Park, Kansas — computer science
- Bri Pfeifer —Lee’s Summit (Missouri) West High School — biomedical engineering
- Dhruv Roy, — Lone Star High School in Frisco, Texas — aerospace engineering
- Mitchell Steele — St. Joseph Central High School Cosby in Missouri— biomedical engineering
- Ivan Stevens — Classical School of Wichita — mechanical engineering
- Alexia Vence —, Classen School of Advanced Studies at Northeast in Midwest City, Missouri — industrial engineering
Wallace Scholar biographies
Tyler Bixenman
Hometown: Wichita, Kansas
School: Circle High School
Major: Mechanical engineering
Tyler is the oldest of three brothers and was raised in Wichita. He has run varsity
cross country and track all four years of high school, serving as captain his senior
year, and placing at the state meet twice. Academically, he has maintained a 4.0 GPA
throughout high school and is a National Merit semifinalist. Tyler is also involved
in the Math Relay Team, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, as well as his local youth
group where he helps lead a small Bible study. Aside from involvement with his church,
he enjoys staying active through running and hiking, playing the piano, and hanging
out with friends.
Caden Carlson
Hometown: Aurora, Nebraska
School: Aurora High School
Major: Aerospace engineering
Caden was drawn to pursue a major in engineering after he founded his additive manufacturing
company, Carlson CAD. Through this entrepreneurial endeavor, Caden has had the opportunity
to serve clients across Nebraska in fields such as patent certification and marketing.
Beyond Carlson CAD, he is active in football, track, robotics, youth group, Fellowship
of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society, and Student Council. Caden also serves
as the Nebraska Vice President of Future Business Leaders of America and is a National
Merit semifinalist.
Cael Fielding
Hometown: Prosper, Texas
School: Rock Hill High School
Major: Aerospace engineering
Cael developed an interest in engineering while taking his first engineering course
in high school and becoming a member of the high school Solar Car Team. He has been
a member of the Mechanical Team since his sophomore year and has built two different
solar cars that have competed in the Solar Car Challenge, hosted by Texas Instruments,
at Texas Motor Speedway. He and his team successfully passed three days of scrutineering
to qualify both cars for the race days. His team's Cruiser Division car was the first
of its kind and won first place in the division's first ever year. Cael is also a
member of Young Men's Service League and has held numerous leadership positions including
Sergeant of Arms, Slating Chairman, Strategic Planning Chairman, and Career Fair Chairman.
He has volunteered more than 120 hours with various philanthropies in his local community.
Within his high school, Cael is a member of the National Honor Society and has participated
in Student Council.
Jordan Manning
Hometown: Shawnee, Kansas
School: Mill Valley High School
Major: Aerospace engineering
Jordan is pursuing his major in aerospace engineering due to a long-standing interest in science and engineering. He is a team president for the Mill Valley Science Olympiad team and a member of FIRST Robotics team 1810, Jaguar Robotics. He also spent three years running cross country and one year running track. Jordan is the treasurer for the Mill Valley Spanish Honors Society, and he is additionally a member of the National Honors Society. Jordan loves to read books and play video games with friends. He also loves biking, kayaking, windsurfing, and hiking with his family.
Brady Martin
Hometown: Wichita, Kansas
School: Maize High School
Major: Electrical engineering
Brady began his love of all things STEM at a very young age. He began by building
with Legos before he knew how to read. He specifically fell in love with engineering
when observing the Lego Robotics Mindstorms Challenge. Brady has been a mathlete,
played the violin for three years, and played tennis for two years during middle school.
Brady has been a member of the trap shooting team all four years of high school and
is a member of the National Honor Society. In his woodworking class, he designed and
created blueprints, then built his own L-shaped desk. He also won his engineering
classroom competition for his popsicle stick bridge, which held 203 pounds. Brady
is a proud member of his church’s youth group, in which he is an active participant
in volunteering for parishioners as well as community outreach helping to feed the
homeless. Brady also enjoys rowing with the Junior Wichita Rowing Association and
playing video games in his free time.
Olivia O’Reilly
Hometown: Liberty, Missouri
School: Liberty High School
Major: Electrical engineering
Olivia developed an interest in engineering at the age of 11, when her grandpa and
dad introduced her to engineering. Since then, Olivia has taken multiple Project Lead
the Way classes, such as Digital Electronics and Computer Integrated Manufacturing,
to further her knowledge of engineering. Olivia is a student associate at the Northland
Center for Advanced Professional Studies, which gave her an opportunity to be an engineering
intern at Olsson Associates, a civil engineering and design firm. At her internship,
Olivia was mentored by engineers from a variety of different fields and did the site
development and design of a hypothetical Olsson building. In school, Olivia was a
member of Spanish National Honors Society and was a violinist in her school orchestra,
where she received all-district honors. Outside of school, Olivia enjoys running with
her friends and is a four-time varsity letter recipient in cross country and a state
qualifier in track.
Jack Peterson
Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas
School: Washington Preparatory Academy
Major: Aerospace engineering
Jack developed his interest in engineering through his participation in FIRST Robotics
Competition Team 1825, where he was a member of mechanical, drive, and programming
sub-teams. He has also been a member of the Overland Park Teen Council since his freshman
year. In addition, he enjoyed being a delegate to the American Legion Boys State of
Kansas, where he was a senator. He is a National Merit Semifinalist. Jack is a cadet
sergeant in his Civil Air Patrol squadron. In his free time, Jack enjoys playing board
games, running, and learning about airplanes.
James Peterson
Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas
School: Washington Preparatory Academy
Major: Computer science
James has been interested in engineering for a long time, but began programming after
joining FIRST Robotics Team 1825, where he has been the mechanical lead, driver, and
drive team coach, and is now the programming lead. He is also involved in the Overland
Park Teen Council, was a Youth Liaison to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee
and was a delegate to the American Legion Kansas Boys State of Kansas. James has been
an active member of his church's youth group. James is also a Civil Air Patrol cadet
sergeant. James is also a National Merit semifinalist. In his free time, James enjoys
programming and playing board games with his family and friends.
Bri Pfeifer
Hometown: Lee’s Summit, Missouri
School: Lee’s Summit West High School
Major: Biomedical engineering
Bri found her passion for engineering through FIRST Robotics. As a member of FIRST
Robotics Team 1986, Team Titanium Robotics, she found that she loved innovating and
engineering. During her four years in robotics, she contributed to the team in various
roles including being the Business Lead, controlling the FTC robot and coaching during
matches at competitions, presenting to judges for awards such as the Chairman’s Award,
organizing fundraisers and sponsorships, and scouting during competitions to aid the
team in strategy. In addition to robotics, Bri is a member of the National Honors
Society and has taken advanced, honors, and dual credit courses, as well as attended
Summit Technology Academy for a biomedical studies course. She is also enrolled in
her school district’s Early College Program where she takes a full course of college
classes to prepare for her master’s degree in biomedical engineering, which she aspires
to earn at Wichita State University.
Dhruv Roy
Hometown: Frisco, Texas
School: Lone Star High School
Major: Aerospace engineering
With a dream to impact the future of modern mobility, Dhruv strives to push the boundaries
of his knowledge of the world around him as he pursues aerospace engineering. He was
inspired to study the field through his ISM (Independent Study and Mentorship) class,
as he studied and learned under the mentorship of experienced engineers. Since his
freshman year, Dhruv was involved with Business Professionals of America at school
and rose to the position of treasurer twice. He led his Website Design Team to achieve
third place at the national competition and was a Texas State Qualifier in the Presentation
Management event. He also was involved with DECA and placed National Alternate for
Texas in the Professional Selling event. In addition, Dhruv actively contributes to
his community as a tutor and mentor for children curious about STEM careers through
free tutoring at local middle and elementary schools. Dhruv also enjoys anime, cars,
comics, music, sports, Star Wars, video games, and spending time with friends and
family.
Mitchell Steele
Hometown: Cosby, Missouri
School: St. Joseph Central High School
Major: Biomedical engineering
Mitchell is passionate about people and the role of serving others, while being easily
intrigued with problem solving and technology. As a small boy, he never knew a stranger.
His curiosity is the motivator of his adventure and interests. Life experiences have
led him to pursue biomedical engineering. He looks forward to improving healthcare
while capitalizing on his strengths. He is involved with Student Government and numerous
clubs in school, as well as Christian youth activities. He is a member of National
Honor Society, Area Health Education Centers, and Missouri Boys State. He enjoys participating
in team sports and has lettered in swim team, baseball, and cross country, while earning
Drug-free Super Star. He often volunteers within his community and school. In his
spare time, he enjoys playing games with friends, traveling with his family, and taking
a good long nap.
Ivan Stevens
Hometown: Andover, Kansas
School: Classical School of Wichita
Major: Mechanical engineering
Ivan's interest in engineering was piqued in sixth grade, when he participated in
a Lego Robotics competition. Since then, he has taken every engineering class his
school has to offer, even helping to teach Engineering III. He has been integral in
pioneering Engineering IV at his school and was part of a project to build a fully
autonomous chess board from scratch. Ivan runs cross country, competes in bowling,
and plays tennis. He also competes in the local mountain bike race league for high
schoolers (NICA). In 2020, he started his own mobile bike repair business, where he
enjoys assisting fellow bicycle enthusiasts and working on mechanical challenges.
Ivan also enjoys biking, camping, reading books on philosophy, playing chess, and
doing pretty much anything outside.
Alexia Vence
Hometown: Midwest City, Missouri
Classen School of Advanced Studies at Northeast
Industrial Engineering
Alexia has been an aspiring STEM professional since her early years of exploring in
4-H—where she placed third in regionals for the Rose State Science Fair while in the
fourth grade — experimenting in labs and attending nanotechnology and engineering
camps. This has evolved into her becoming the Advanced Placement scholar and International
Baccalaureate student she is today. She has a commitment to leadership and community,
which began with tutoring in middle school and continues today. She has also volunteered
throughout her high school years in the ASCEND Christian Leadership program, OKCPD's
Youth Leadership Academy, the Pivot Teen Service Board, her school's events, and concession
stands during basketball games and her brothers' football games. She has transcended
the "all work and no play" mantra. She has worked and played hard in basketball for
two years, in softball for three years with Region 8 Female Athlete of the Year and
All Conference Team accolades, and finishing as a 2021 track and field state qualifier
for Oklahoma.
Wichita State University serves as the Kansas urban-based research university, enrolling more than 16,000 students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.
Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.
The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
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