Scholarships

WTS is committed to advancing the careers of women in transportation through education and professional development.

WTS Houston Scholarship Application Deadline has been extended! Applications are now due Friday, January 6, 2023!

Below are the scholarship offerings this year:

Scholarships are competitive and based on the applicant's specific transportation goals, academic record, and transportation-related activities or job skills. Minority candidates are encouraged to apply. Applications must be submitted through the local Houston chapter as typed word documents.

Scholarship Overview:

To encourage women pursuing careers in transportation, the Houston Chapter of WTS will award six local scholarships. One $7,000 to a graduate student, one $6,000 to an undergraduate student, one $3,500 to a community college/technical/trade school student, and one $3,500 to a high school student. In additional, two students who are selected to represent the Houston Chapter for two WTSI scholarships, Paula Hammond Leadership Legacy Scholarship and Molitoris Leadership Scholarship will be awarded $1,000 each. These scholarships have been made possible through generous contributions from our corporate members and our live and silent auction held at the Annual Scholarship & Awards Event.

Every year, the scholarships are competitive and based on the applicant’s specific transportation involvement and goals, job skills, and academic record. Minority candidates are encouraged to apply. Past applicants have backgrounds in civil, mechanical, electrical, and environmental engineering, as well as urban planning, public policy, public safety, emergency response and logistics. Any students that may be eligible for the scholarships should apply!

All chapters forward their local scholarship winners to WTS International, which awards greater scholarship amounts in addition to the local award. WTS International has six scholarships: the Helene M. Overly Graduate Scholarship for $10,000; the President’s Legacy Scholarship for Graduates for $5,000; the Sharon D. Banks Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship for $5,000; the Molitoris Leadership Scholarship for Undergraduates for $5,000; the Community College/Technical/Trade School Scholarship for $2,500; and the Transportation YOU High School Scholarship for $2,500. The local and international scholarships are based on the same criteria in order to maximize the chances that the applicant can also win the international scholarship award. Eligible students should submit an application to the local chapter, and one nominee will be forwarded to WTS International.

The SIX local WTS scholarships are:

Houston Chapter - Helene M. Overly Memorial Scholarship

Encourages women to pursue career paths in transportation. This $7,000 scholarship is awarded to women pursuing graduate studies in transportation or a related field.

Houston Chapter - Sharon D. Banks Undergraduate Scholarship

Fosters the development of women in the transportation field by encouraging bright new professionals to undertake careers in transportation. This award is for $6,000.

Houston Chapter - Community College/Technical/Trade School Scholarship

Fosters the development of women in the transportation field by encouraging bright new professionals to undertake careers in transportation. This award is for $3,500.

Houston Chapter - Transportation YOU High School Scholarship

Fosters the development of women and girls in the transportation field by encouraging bright new professionals and students to undertake careers in transportation. This award is for $3,500.

Houston Chapter - Paula Hammond Leadership Legacy Scholarship

For graduate students who are the future leaders of transportation and who demonstrate interest in advancing transportation innovation. This award is for $1,000.

Houston Chapter - Molitoris Leadership Scholarship

For undergraduate students in transportation or related field who demonstrate leadership skills, ability and interest. This award is for $1,000.

2021-2022 Houston Chapter Scholarship Winners

Helene Overly Memorial Scholarship: Jiahe “Jane” Bian, Texas A&M University

Leadership Legacy: Anatha Sai Sreelekha Gudimella, Texas A&M University

Sharon D Banks Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship: Carolina Graca, Texas Southern University

Molitoris Leadership Scholarship for Undergraduates: Rut Rosario, Prairie View A&M

TransportationYOU High School Scholarship: Haya Allaham, Energy Institute High School

2020-2021 Houston Chapter Scholarship Winners

Helene Overly Memorial Scholarship: Sky Guo, Texas A&M University

Leadership Legacy: Sumnima Singh, University of Houston

Sharon D Banks Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship: Sydney Jones, Prairie View A&M

Molitoris Leadership Scholarship for Undergraduates: Sydney Jones, Prairie View A&M

Junior College/Trade School Scholarship: Tien Nguyen, Houston Community College

TransportationYOU High School Scholarship: Rhea Phatak, Michael E. DeBakey High School

2019-2020 Houston Chapter Scholarship Winners

Houston Helene M. Overly Memorial Scholarship: Jinli Liu – Texas Southern University

Houston Sharon D. Banks Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship: Tessa Miller - Texas A&M University

Houston Community College/Technical/Trade School Scholarship: Anna Vilorio - Houston Community College

Houston Transportation YOU Scholarship: Ashley Lane - Clear Springs High School

WTSI Leadership Legacy Scholarship Nominee: Sky Guo - Texas A&M University

WTSI Molitoris Scholarship Nominee: Kara Permenter - University of Houston

2018-2019 Houston Chapter Scholarship Winners

Houston Helene M. Overly Memorial Scholarship: Farinoush Sharifi – Texas A&M University

Houston Sharon D. Banks Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship: Samantha Vail - Texas A&M University

Houston Transportation YOU Scholarship: Nicole Mut - Mirabeau B. Lamar High School; Madeline Demny - Magnolia High School

2017-2018 Houston Chapter Scholarship Winners

Houston Helene M. Overly Memorial Scholarship: Sirajum Munira – Texas A&M University

Houston Sharon D. Banks Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship: Jesica Rubio - Texas A&M University

Houston Transportation YOU Scholarship: Jasmine Huang - Bellaire Senior High School

2016-2017 Houston Chapter Scholarship Winners

Helene M. Overly Graduate Scholarship: Nelida Herrera – Louisiana State University

Sharon D. Banks Undergraduate Scholarship: Rikki Vela - Texas A&M University

Transportation YOU Scholarship: Paula Villagrano-Ocasio - YES Prep West

2015 Houston Chapter Scholarship Winners

Helene M. Overly Memorial Graduate Scholarship: Qing Li - Texas Southern University

Sharon D. Banks Undergraduate Scholarship: Julia Ross – University of Louisiana at Lafayette

2014 Houston Chapter Scholarship Winners

Helene M. Overly Memorial Graduate Scholarship: Lorena Garcia Cucalon - Texas A&M University

Sharon D. Banks Undergraduate Scholarship: Kaitlynn Simmons - Texas A&M University

2013 Houston Chapter Scholarship Winners

Helene M. Overly Memorial Graduate Scholarship: Grace Arthur - Texas Southern University

Sharon D. Banks Undergraduate Scholarship: Rebecca Jensen - University of New Orleans

2012 Houston Chapter Scholarship Winners

Helene M. Overly Memorial Graduate Scholarship: Lisa Larsen - Texas A&M University

Sharon D. Banks Undergraduate Scholarship: Anamaria Torres - Louisiana Tech University

Eligible Colleges/Universities for Houston Chapter Scholarships

Del Mar College, Houston Community College, Lamar University, Lee College, Prairie View A&M University, Rice University, San Jacinto College, South Texas College, Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas A&M University, Texas A&M International University - Laredo, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, Texas A&M University - Galveston, Texas A&M University – Kingsville, Texas Southern University, The Victoria College, University of Houston, University of St. Thomas, University of Texas – Pan American and Wharton County Junior College