K-State Salina becomes partner in Top Hawk aviation program
K-State Salina was selected by Textron Aviation as one of four universities nationwide to partner with its inaugural Top Hawk program, according to K-State News and Communications.
The Top Hawk program will give K-State Salina full use of a Cessna Skyhawk 172 aircraft for the remainder of 2015, allowing Salina students the chance to operate its modern features such as its G1000 avionics system. Additionally, each of the four schools will give on student the opportunity to intern with Textron Aviation. Selected students will be exposed to business operations, leading classes and building flight hours through lessons and discovery flights. At the end of the internship, students will compete against each other in an aviation challenge for the title of Top Hawk.
“It’s such an honor to be able to represent K-State Salina in the program,” Ian Barnhart, senior in aeronautical technology, said in the news release. “The Top Hawk experience will provide me with valuable learning and networking opportunities that will help build my career as well as benefit other K-State Salina students who will train in the amazing Cessna Skyhawk 172.”
Other participating universities are the University of North Dakota, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Liberty University.
Engineering graduate student receives top national scholarship
Collin Wheeler, graduate student in architectural engineering, was selected as a recipient of a $6,000 scholarship from the Besal Lighting Education Fund, a top award for graduate students nationwide, according to K-State News and Communications.
Wheeler has been active as a member and officer in Illuminating Engineering Society and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, and is also a member of the International Association of Lighting Designers. He has worked as an intern for Mercer-Zimmerman Inc., Henderson Engineers Inc., and will fill an intern position with the DLR group this May.
“Collin is an outstanding student with a proven talent and skill set in lighting design,” Fred Hasler, associate professor of architectural engineering and construction science and Wheeler’s advising professor for graduate studies, said in the news release. “I believe he will well represent the goals of the Besal Fund as he uses this scholarship to prepare for a successful career in the lighting industry.”
This year’s scholarship competition required students to submit a proposal to renovate office space as well as for an amusement park ride being developed for a theme park company based near Los Angeles. Students had to focus on specific issues such as updated lighting controls, reducing energy and maintenance costs, flexibility, nighttime impact and lighting quality.
K-State and its architectural engineering and construction science department represent one of only six U.S. universities that qualifies its students for Besal scholarships.
