4/5/2023 William Gillespie
Samuel Weiss wins AOC's STEM Student of the Year Scholarship!
Written by William Gillespie
Each year, The Association of Old Crows (AOC) awards STEM Student of the Year (a $12,500 scholarship) each to one male and one female student studying engineering or engineering technology and interested in working in the aerospace and defense industry. A generous donation from Raytheon Intelligence & Space funds this scholarship.
This year, Samuel Weiss (BSSED 2023) is a winner. Samuel is a senior in Systems Engineering and Design with a Secondary Field Option in Business Systems Integration and Consulting.
Samuel chose ISE because
it was the only engineering program that properly integrated engineering with its real-world applications. I visited a number of near-peer engineering schools and none of them had a program as adept as UIUC’s. In particular, the secondary field options have given me a chance to direct my education in a field of strong interest. I feel much more prepared to enter the business world with both the technical proficiency of an engineer and the literacy of a business professional.
The business world may have to wait a little longer for Samuel's immense talents, which are in demand elsewhere. Samuel says,
Last October, I was selected for the Navy pilot program. Flight training is a 2-3 year evolution that starts in Pensacola, FL. There are three schools one must go through with selection points for different aircraft along the way. The commitment after graduating flight school is eight years, but for the opportunity to be a Naval Aviator, I wouldn’t trade anything for it. My dream is to fly the F/A-18 Super Hornet, F-35 Lightning II, or E/A-18 Growler. Those are all carrier-based jets. There is a one-year backup right now before flight school, so I did apply for a Navy graduate program in Israel. I was very fortunate and received a full-ride to their master’s program in government diplomacy and conflict studies. It is now just a matter of making my case to the Navy that supporting me on this endeavor is worth their time. Two days after I graduate UIUC, I’ll commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy. I expect to be attached to the unit here in Champaign completing onboarding requirements until a little after the end of the summer.
The AOC commends Samuel's commitment to service, explaining, "While not from a military family or background, Samuel was raised to value cheerful service to his neighbors and community. He first discovered his enjoyment of helping others in Scouting, eventually attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. Many of the older scouts Samuel admired had great passion and continued their service by joining the military. "
As an undergrad, Samuel worked as a researcher in the University of Illinois Innovative Semiconductor Lab (ICORLAB) under the direction of Prof. Can Bayram. According to AOC, "Samuel’s research into diamond-based semiconductors led him to perform work at Argonne National Lab’s Center for Nanoscale Materials (ANL CNM) to fabricate and test various crystalline chips. The research program was funded through the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and has applications to many high power/efficiency systems such as satellites and power plants."
Samuel was also fully engaged with his capstone Senior Engineering Project. He says: "my capstone project has been the great culminating event of my four years at UIUC. I am using skills I developed in every semester of school and professors I met along the way to solve a real industry problem for an engineering company."
To students considering systems engineering, Samuel advises,
One of the great challenges we were presented in the introductory engineering class (ENG 100) was to describe systems engineering. It is a very wide category of study and means different things to each person depending on the curriculum path they choose to take. For me, it is the intersection of mechanical and electrical engineering as it applies to control systems, data analytics, and business. For a new student considering this field of study, I have but a few words of wisdom: Know that this study will push you beyond what you thought were your academic limits, but when you look back you’ll be grateful for the challenge. College should be much more than four years of showing up to class. It should be intentional. It should be a challenge. Make it about being the best version of you. Sit at the front in class, do research, try out new clubs, and most importantly, build good relationships with your peers and professors. This is how you become so competitive and marketable that your dream company can’t say no when you apply for their summer internship or job. Success starts here.
And about the honor and the scholarship, Samuel expresses deep gratitude to AOC: "I am incredibly grateful to the Association of Old Crows for their continued support of my studies. In particular, the Chicago Windy City Chapter has gone above and beyond to present me with opportunities for professional development. I only wish I had more hours in the day to take advantage of their resources. The Association of Old Crows is a professional organization dedicated to connecting engineers, scientists, and civilian defense workers in the fields of electronic warfare, electromagnetic spectrum operations, cyber electromagnetic operations, and information operations. At its core, it is about connecting people. I am very fortunate to be supported by them and hope to bring pride to their organization."
We applaud Samuel Weiss for his spirit, service, and systems engineering chops!