Clark Scholars Cohort 2

Sarah Aikey

Sarah Aikey is originally from Milton. Aikey will earn a bachelor of science in chemical engineering. Her hobbies include reading, drawing, and hiking. During the fall of 2024, Aikey completed a co-op rotation with Phillips. During her time at Penn State, Aikey was a member of the Chemical Engineering Society. 

Advice for Clark Scholars: "College is a marathon, not a sprint. Don't forget to breathe and pace yourself. It's the moments when you feel like quitting that make the finish line worth crossing."

Jessi Altiero  

Jessi Altiero is from Northeastern Pennsylvania. Altiero will receive a bachelor of science in industrial engineering and a minor in engineering leadership development. She was a co-op student at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, where she inspected nuclear power plants and led a study on human factors using digital systems. On campus, Altiero served as president of Penn State Women in Nuclear, and she organized outreach events at the Penn State Breazeale Nuclear Reactor. She was also a member of Alpha Pi Mu, the industrial engineering honors society. Altiero studied abroad in Peru and Switzerland with a focus in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. After graduation, Altiero will continue her work with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 

Advice for Clark Scholars: "This part of your life is a postage stamp, so be sure to make it as fun, colorful, and full of life as you can!"

Tyler Hazlett

Tyler Hazlett is from Tamaqua, Pennsylvania. He will earn a bachelor of science in industrial engineering and a minor in entrepreneurship and innovation. At Penn State, Hazlett was involved in several clubs, including Club Golf, Ski Club, the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers, and the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, where he served as treasurer and vice president. He was also a Penn State THON chair, the world's largest student-run philanthropy benefiting pediatric cancer. For the past three summers, Hazlett participated in a study abroad program in Peru and completed an internship at Aurora Contractors as a field engineer and an internship as a project engineer with Skanska. 

Advice for Clark Scholars: "You live to learn, and you learn to live. Never be scared to take chances and try new things."

Stella Kibinda 

Stella Kibinda is from York, Pennsylvania. Kibinda will earn a bachelor of science in biomedical engineering with a minor in entrepreneurship and innovation. Kibinda participated in study abroad programs in Peru, South Korea, and Italy. Kibinda served as the previous programs chair and secretary for the National Society of Black Engineers, vice president and president of the Mighty Mu Eta chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated, lead mentor for the Multicultural Engineering Program Orientation, and previous service chair and vice president for the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Kibinda has participated in research under Dr. Esther Gomez's lab, focusing on how the mechanical properties of a cell's environment influence histone modifications during epithelial-mesenchymal transition, which has resulted in her being a co-author for a published manuscript. Looking ahead, she is excited about continuing her studies to obtain a doctoral degree in biomedical engineering. She is eager to delve deeper into research, contribute to scientific advancements, and ultimately, drive the development of technologies that can revolutionize health care for the better. 

Advice for Clark Scholars: "Do not live in regret while in college. Do everything you are interested in, even if it is not in your realm. Do not pass up any opportunity and use your network to the max!"

Julia Kline  

Julia Kline is from Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Kline will earn her bachelor of science in engineering science; minors in engineering design, engineering leadership development; and engineering mechanics; and a certificate in international engineering. Kline completed five study abroad opportunities in various countries: South Africa, Italy, South Korea, Denmark, and Australia. During the summer of 2023, Kline interned with Ametek Hunter Spring as a mechanical engineering intern. During the summer of 2024, Kline interned with Oshkosh JLG as an Aftermarket Operations Intern. At Penn State, Kline was involved in biomedical ethics research through the Wagner Group, Penn State THON, Engineering Ambassadors, ESTARs, EON, and Club Cheerleading. Upon graduation, she will work full time to make magic through Walt Disney World Imagineering in Orlando, Florida. 

Advice for Clark Scholars: "Make the most of every opportunity during these four short years of college; before you know it, they'll be over, so fill them with memories you'll treasure forever."

Charles Nino

Charles Nino is from Roxbury, New Jersey. His hobbies include going to the gym, playing lacrosse, painting, and learning different instruments.  Nino will earn a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering. He was a member of the executive board for his fraternity and was involved with Penn State THON as a primary chair. In summer 2023, Nino participated in an internship at ALO Labs in New Jersey, where he practiced design and development with 3D models. In summer 2024, Nino completed a project management internship. 

Advice for Clark Scholars: "Winners never quit, and quitters never win."

Obiutodike Nnabugwu

Obiutodike Nnabugwu is from Baltimore City, Maryland. She will earn a bachelor of science in biomedical engineering with a concentration in medical imaging and devices and a minor in entrepreneurship and innovation. Nnabugwu was involved on campus as an Engineering Ambassador, teaching K-12 students about engineering through workshops; an EnviornMentor, where she mentored local high school students interested in STEM research, and undergraduate research. Since her second year, Nnabugwu had been investigating the effects of alcohol binge drinking on somatostatin expression in aged mice under the supervision of Dr. Nikki Crowley. She spent her summers abroad, participating in paid research experiences at Virginia Commonwealth University and Penn State. At Penn State, Nnabugwu studied abroad in Lima, Peru, and Como, Italy. She traveled to Kisumu, Kenya, to investigate potential ways to create a supplementary income for boda boda(motorcycle) drivers through soot production and repurposing. She completed an international internship in Grenoble, France, where she contributed to patient-specific computer models and simulations of the human tongue affected by tongue cancer. 

Advice for Clark Scholars: "Stay true to yourself no matter what, mistakes will happen, but don't let them break you, and live it up."

Hemin Rana

Hemin Rana is from Passaic, New Jersey. Rana will receive a bachelor of science in civil engineering with minors in engineering leadership development and entrepreneurship and innovation. He participated in the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers, the South Asian Student Association, and the American Society of Civil Engineers, enriching his campus life and professional network. Rana's academic journey was enhanced by studying abroad in diverse places such as Lima, Peru; Seoul, South Korea; Leeds, United Kingdom; Johannesburg, South Africa; San Sebastian, Spain; and Sydney, Australia. These experiences broadened his educational perspectives and deepened his appreciation for global engineering challenges and cultural exchange. 

Advice for Clark Scholars: "Take every shot you get, whether it’s a project, a trip, or just meeting new people. You never know what’ll change your path. Be curious, stay grounded, and back yourself."

Grace Wagner

Grace Wagner is from Port Matilda, Pennsylvania. Her hobbies include enjoying the outdoors, birdwatching, and spending time with her family and many pets. Wagner majored in Computational Data Science and minored in Engineering Leadership Development and Mathematics. During the summer of 2024, she participated in an internship at PPL where she worked on the distribution asset investment strategy team. After graduation, Wagner will join the PPL team in a business analyst role. 

Advice for Clark Scholars: "Figure out what your priorities are and always stand up for them. Prioritizing yourself, your priorities, and your needs is not selfish; it is healthy and necessary."

Jiabao Zhao

Jiabao Zhao will receive a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering and graduate from the Schreyer Honors College.  After graduation, Zhao will work with Dr. Kovalenko on the application of artificial intelligence in robotics as a research assistant at Penn State. During his time as an undergraduate, Zhao published a research paper "DESIGN OF HUMMINGBIRD-INSPIRED DRONE WITH TENSEGRITY STRUCTURE“ under Dr. Bo Cheng. In addition to research, he also had an internship with PennDOT on an autonomous driving system. Zhao served as the vice president of the Asian Student Fitness Club. In his free time, Zhao likes to play basketball, listen to music, and work out. 

Advice for Clark Scholars: "There is no substitute of hard work."