Congratulations to the 2026 WTSI Strategic Partner and WTS Foundation Scholarship Winners!
The WTS Foundation is proud to announce the 2026 scholarship & awards recipients! This remarkable group of young leaders has each received a highly competitive scholarship to further their education and pursue their passions in transportation.
We are excited to honor this year’s scholarship recipients at the Scholarships and Award Gala, held during the 2026 WTS International Annual Conference in Los Angeles, California, from May 4-7. Join us at the conference to celebrate this year’s scholarship winners!
Strategic Partner Scholarships
Thank you to WTS International Pinnacle and Strategic Level Corporate Partners HNTB, AECOM, HDR, Jacobs, and WSP for their generosity, which supports our Strategic Partner Scholarships.
HNTB Strategic Partner Scholarship
Clarissa Avalos, University of Southern California
Clarissa Avalos is a Master of Urban Planning candidate at the University of Southern California, concentrating in Economic Development. With an academic foundation in both urban planning and business, she brings a multidisciplinary perspective to transportation development. Her early experience with the City of Santa Ana’s Planning and Building Department helped form the foundation of her passion for supporting local government and advancing community-centered development. As a Transportation Planning Intern at TYLin, she has contributed to a variety of projects, including municipal parking studies, Safe Streets for All initiatives, multimodal corridor analyses, and mobility grant applications. After graduation, Clarissa plans to study abroad in Scotland and London with USC, learning more about international approaches to transportation management.
HNTB Strategic Partner Scholarship
Angel Lucian, South Carolina State University
Angel Charles Lucian is a graduate student in Transportation and Highway Engineering at South Carolina State University and a Graduate Research Assistant focused on advancing safety at roadway intersections through data-driven approaches. Her work explores innovative methods to identify hidden hazards, understand driver behavior, and improve decision-making in complex traffic environments. She serves as the Communications Director for her university’s Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) student chapter. Through these roles, she leads outreach initiatives, fosters student engagement, and creates opportunities to connect students with transportation careers. She is also actively involved with organizations such as WTS, NSBE, and SWE, where she supports mentorship, representation, and professional development in STEM.
AECOM Strategic Partner Scholarship
Sylvie Guezeon, University of Minnesota
Sylvie Guezeon is a PhD candidate at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Sylvie's research in urban planning lies at the intersection of transit systems, community engagement and public health. Her dissertation elevates awareness within the university and global setting of the transit and mobility challenges facing university students, undergraduate and graduate. With her work, Sylvie is testing new data collection tools and platforms for engaging communities, ensuring they are given equal opportunity to co-create effective and responsive transit solutions. She is the author of the research-to-comic book "Where Does This Route Go? Amplifying Students' Voices for Better Public Transportation at Universities."
HDR Strategic Partner Scholarship
Ruby Foxall, New York University
Ruby Foxall is a transportation planner completing a master's in urban planning at NYU Wagner. Her varying experiences with transportation across the US and in China sparked an interest in the relationships between land use and transportation, especially public transit, active transportation, and freight management. Ruby currently works as a Graduate Senior Researcher at the NYU Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and as a transportation planning intern at the Regional Plan Association. She is also Director of Administration for the NYC chapter of Young Professionals in Transportation and serves as NYU Wagner's student body president.
HDR Strategic Partner Scholarship
Madalyn Sharp, Clemson University
Madalyn RaeAnn Sharp is a sophomore environmental engineering student at Clemson University who is passionate about designing infrastructure that protects and strengthens communities. She is especially interested in the intersection of transportation systems, water resources, and sustainability, and how thoughtful engineering can improve everyday life. At Clemson, she serves as an Environmental Engineering Student Ambassador, helping prospective students explore engineering pathways and feel confident in their choices. She is also involved in the Environmental Engineering Club and has participated in Engineers Without Borders. This summer, she will intern with Michael Baker International, where she looks forward to gaining hands-on experience in transportation-related projects.
Jacobs Strategic Partner Scholarship
Lydia Pascale Estefo, Grand Canyon University, Community College of the Air Force
Lydia Pascale is an active duty Aircraft Mechanic and a full time mom to a 9 year old boy alone. Lydia attends Grand Canyon University, pursuing a Bachelors in Applied Management while completing an Associate in Applied Science in Aviation Maintenance Technology through the Community College of the Air Force. She has worked since she was 16, with no plans on stopping anytime soon until both her disabled parents are retired and her son has every opportunity she didn’t. Her goals are to become a Project Manager or Engineer in the Aerospace or Aircraft field. Lydia's days are as follows: launching and parking aircraft, changing parts and inspections; attending track & football practices and coaches games & meets; church on Sundays and community volunteering when there’s time to do so. Lydia doesn’t take anything for granted, and is grateful for every step in her path.
WSP Strategic Partner Scholarship
Lidya Woldeyesus, Georgetown University
Growing up as an Eritrean immigrant shaped Lidya Woldeyesus' understanding of how geography determines access. Upon graduating with a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from Georgetown University, she aims to use transportation planning to advance equity, reshape narratives around mobility, and center those often excluded from planning processes. In her studies, Lidya has analyzed first-and-last-mile challenges faced by Washington, DC transit riders, comparing the city’s lowest and highest-income wards. She also created an interactive ArcGIS Online map illustrating displacement in Sudan using IOM and UNHCR data and evaluated Kigali’s proposed BRT system for informal settlements. Lidya is a Transportation Planning Graduate Intern at WSP supporting a comprehensive transportation study for Baltimore City focused on micromobility, pedestrian safety, access, green infrastructure, and economic development. She is also Geospatial Research Assistant at Georgetown University’s Global Cities Initiative, conducting analyses on multimodal transit access, walksheds, demographic change, and neighborhood conditions surrounding Georgetown’s new Capitol Campus.
WTS Foundation Scholarships
Sharon D. Banks Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship
Kelly Lige, Howard University
Kelly Lige, a graduating senior at Howard University, is pursuing a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, with minors in Environmental Studies and Mathematics. Originally from San Diego, Kelly is committed to environmental justice and developing equitable infrastructure. Her academic and professional journey focuses on the intersection of water resource systems, urban planning, and transportation networks. She is currently serving as President of the Howard University Engineering Ambassadors, where she mentors K-12 students and encourages them to see engineering as a tool for community advocacy. She also serves as the Senior Representative for the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Fundraising Chair for the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). Professionally, Kelly has gained experience in transportation resilience as a Water Resources Engineering Intern with WSP USA. She works on projects ranging from highway expansions to public transit plan design. Upon graduation, Kelly will return to WSP as a full-time engineer, designing infrastructure that prioritizes hydrologic resilience and protects vulnerable communities.
Helene M. Overly Memorial Graduate Scholarship
Dakota Gross, San José State University
Dakota Gross is a transportation and environmental planning consultant based in Los Angeles focused on improving customer experience in rail and transit systems. She served as Deputy Project Manager for the Los Angeles Metro Gender Action Plan, advancing recommendations to improve safety, accessibility, and comfort for women riders. At San José State University, her graduate research examines how major rail stations like Gare du Nord in Paris support families traveling with children. She hopes to continue leading projects that make transit more inclusive and welcoming for all users.
Molitoris Leadership Scholarship for Undergraduates
Sonali Jepal, Rutgers University
Sonali Jepal is a senior at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, and will be graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Transportation this May. Having grown up in the tri-state area, Sonali was always drawn to the world of transportation. This past year, she served as the President of the Rutgers chapter of the ASCE, helping organize a civil career expo, site visits, and various company networking sessions. The chapter was recognized as a Region 1 Distinguished Chapter. Sonali also served on the Rutgers Engineering Honors Council as a Keynote Chair for three years, bringing speakers to Rutgers to deliver compelling presentations for the engineering community. She also spent 6 semesters as a Learning Assistant for Engineering Economics, blending her passion for engineering and pedagogy. Sonali completed two internships with the Port Authority of NY & NJ - one in Maintenance Management at EWR, and another in Traffic Design. Following graduation, she will return to Rutgers to continue her Master's Degree in Transportation Engineering at the Rail and Transit Lab under Dr. Xiang Liu.
Junior College/Trade School Scholarship
Lauren Stettbacher, Fox Valley Technical College
Lauren has been passionate about aviation since she was a young girl, and following her first discovery flight, she knew she wanted to pursue a career as a pilot. She started flight training at 16, earned her private pilot license at 17, and by age 19 has achieved her instrument, commercial, Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), and multi-engine ratings, along with complex and tailwheel endorsements. She is currently working toward her Certified Flight Instructor-Instrument (CFII) rating while pursuing an associate degree in Aviation Management from Fox Valley Technical College in Oshkosh, WI. Lauren has spent the last three years working as an aviation line technician at the Fond du Lac Skyport, gaining valuable hands-on experience in airport operations. She was recently hired as a Certified Flight Instructor with Cub Air Flight in Hartford, WI, where she is now actively training and mentoring new pilots. Lauren is an active member of EAA Chapters 572 and 252, Women in Aviation, The Ninety-Nines, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), and the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI). As a volunteer pilot with the EAA Young Eagles program, Lauren has provided 20 children with their first flight experiences.
WTS Transportation YOU High School Scholarship
Laura Romero, Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School
Laura Isabel Romero is a driven student leader at the Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School in Dallas, Texas. Anticipating graduation in May 2026, Laura is an aspiring civil engineer dedicated to designing sustainable infrastructure that fosters community connectivity and accessibility. Laura has already gained significant industry exposure through a summer internship at HDR Engineering, Inc., where she rotated through various departments and developed proficiency in technical tools such as MicroStation, ArcGIS, and Bluebeam. Her commitment to service is global; she spent a month volunteering in the Dominican Republic through the CIEE program, supporting underprivileged youth and gaining a profound perspective on cultural connection. On campus and in her community, Laura holds numerous leadership roles, including serving as President of Young Leaders Strong City and as a District III Officer for the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). A College Board National Top Scholar, she is also an active member of the National Honor Society and her school’s Robotics Build Team.
Bridgette Beato Leadership Legacy Scholarship for Graduates
Maria Carolina Lecompte, University of California, Davis
Maria Carolina Lecompte is a Ph.D. candidate at the Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS) at UC Davis. She holds a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, a master's degree in Engineering with an emphasis in Transportation from the Universidad de Los Andes (Colombia), and a master's degree in Urban Development Planning from University College London. Prior to joining UC Davis, she served as an Advisor to the Secretary of Mobility in Bogotá, bringing over a decade of experience in transportation planning across the public, private, and academic sectors in Colombia. Maria's research focuses on travel behavior analysis to advance sustainable transportation planning, policies, and projects with a people-centered approach that prioritizes inclusion and equity, particularly for women and underserved communities.
Congratulations again to this year’s scholarship winners! Last year, the WTS Foundation provided over $800,000 to students to support their transportation-related studies. Help the WTS Foundation continue raising the bar by donating today. Learn more about the incredible work of the Foundation and make a donation here.