WTS
GOLD

Scholarships

Congratulations to all of our 2026 WTS-Boston Chapter Scholarship recipients! 

The 2026 WTS-Boston Scholarship recipients will be invited to the WTS-Boston 2026 Annual Scholarships & Awards Banquet on June 25th to receive recognition.

2026 Graduate Scholarship Winners

Headshot of Maria Firan wearing a red shirt in an outdoor setting under a header that says “WTS Boston recognizes Maria Firan, Northeastern University”. A seal over the image says “2026 Mary Jane O’Meara Graduate Scholarship”, and the footer says “WTS Advancing women Advancing transportation Boston”.
Mary Jane O'Meara Graduate Scholarship
Maria Firan 

Maria is a graduate student pursuing a master's in civil engineering with a concentration in structures at Northeastern University. A double husky, Maria completed her undergraduate degree at Northeastern in 2021 and has been working full time at Jacobs since graduating. Her work focuses on bridge design and ratings, where she combines her growing industry experience with advanced technical concepts to deliver innovative solutions to complex problems. An advocate for sustainable infrastructure, she is an Envision Sustainability Professional and a member of the Carbon Leadership Forum's Boston Infrastructure Working Group. Maria has been an active member of WTS-Boston for the past four years and now serves as the mentoring committee co-chair. She hopes to become a registered professional engineer later this year. 

Headshot of Tolulope Oke wearing a black shirt with polka dots on the collar in an indoor setting under a header that says “WTS Boston recognizes Tolulope Oke, University of Massachusetts Amherst”. A seal over the image says “2026 Ann Hershfang Graduate Scholarship”, and the footer says “WTS Advancing women Advancing transportation Boston”.
Ann Hershfang Graduate Scholarship
Tolulope Oke 

Tolu is a PhD candidate in Civil Engineering (Transportation) at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Her research focuses on improving pedestrian safety near transit stops by investigating the factors that cause crashes through the lens of machine learning models, safety perceptions, and road user behaviors. Tolu earned bachelor’s degrees in physics and mechanical engineering from Mount Holyoke College in 2009 and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in 2010, and completed a master’s degree in civil engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2015. Professionally, Tolu worked as a transportation consultant for about a decade, developing analytical tools to evaluate the feasibility of rail, transit, highway, and airport projects. She then transitioned to the public sector to work at the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, where she secured over $100 million in federal and state funding for transit research and projects. Through her independent consulting firm, Odara Mobility LLC, she supports public and private sector clients on transportation projects. She is excited about remaining an active WTS member, learning from women leaders and seasoned practitioners, mentoring others, and contributing solutions that transform transportation.

2026 Undergraduate Scholarship Winners

Headshot of Meredith Spotts wearing a white shirt and blue sweater in an indoor setting under a header that says “WTS Boston recognizes Meredith Spotts, Maine Maritime Academy”. A seal over the image says “2026 Jacquelyn R. Smith Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship”, and the footer says “WTS Advancing women Advancing transportation Boston”.
Jacquelyn R. Smith Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship
Meredith Spotts 

Meredith Spotts is an undergraduate student at Maine Maritime Academy pursuing a degree in Marine Transportation Operations along with her USCG Third Mate Unlimited Tonnage license. She holds a Private Pilot certificate and enjoys restoring and maintaining vintage aircraft and motorcycles when she’s not at sea. 

On campus, she works as an academic tutor and as a Cadet Second Mate on the Training Ship State of Maine. Throughout her academic training and at-sea experience, she has developed a strong interest in improving safety and education within the transportation industry. Upon graduation, she will work as a merchant mariner, and long-term hopes to pursue a career as a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator, while inspiring other women to pursue nontraditional careers.
High School Scholarship

Headshot of Danielle Harrington wearing a black shirt against a blue background in an indoor setting under a header that says “WTS Boston recognizes Danielle Harrington, Malden High School”. A seal over the image says “2026 Transportation YOU High School Scholarship”, and the footer says “WTS Advancing women Advancing transportation Boston”.
Transportation YOU High School Scholarship
Danielle Harrington

Danielle Harrington is a high school senior at Malden High School in Malden, Massachusetts. Growing up on a busy street, she often heard car crashes, which inspired her passion for transportation safety and road conditions in her community. After attending a RADAR apprenticeship over the summer, she discovered a passion for electrical engineering and plans to study it alongside mathematics at a four-year college. Through her education, Danielle hopes to enhance public transportation safety in metropolitan areas, addressing challenges similar to those posed by the icy roads she experienced at home.