Mississippi State University Scholar Earns Gulf Region Transportation Society Scholarship

October 24, 2017

A Mississippi State scholar is setting the standard for leadership among the next generation of engineers. Emily Salmon-Wall, a research engineer at the Institute for Systems Engineering Research at the Vicksburg Engineering Research and Development Center, recently received one of only five scholarships awarded to engineers throughout the Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama areas.

Wall's research with ISER directly helps the state of Mississippi achieve excellence in multiple fields. Part of her work involves researching the manufacturing viability of specific products made by companies within the state. The companies gain valuable knowledge of their processes and the ability to re-evaluate for improvements that will help overall product quality and increase their bottom line.

Wall also invests her knowledge into the state's youth by teaching an introductory engineering course at both Vicksburg and Warren Central High schools. The course is a split level between MSU and Alcorn State and the credits earned in the high school course transfer to either college's engineering program. Students learn the basics of chemical engineering as well as surveys of other engineering disciplines.

Winning this scholarship is a direct statement to Wall's talents and dedication to helping others. Steve Puryear, a board member for the Gulf Region Intelligent Transportation Society, or GRITS, acknowledges the sentiment when explaining the goal of the scholarship

"Grade-point average only accounts for 10 percent of our consideration. Effective communication in the essay portion along with involvement with programs in the community, school clubs, organizations, and beyond prove that a student is concerned with more than just grades," Puryear said.

Wall is concerned with more than just her grades. In between her full load of online classes and research, she occasionally contributes to the Vicksburg women's shelter and is a member of the Vicksburg Young Professionals, a group providing professional growth, networking and community service to those in the city of Vicksburg between the ages of 21 – 40.

Winning this scholarship bolsters her viability in the professional world, as it marks her as an exemplary engineer and leader but also helps her in the short term. On the merits of winning the scholarship and her plans for the near future, Wall said, "I felt grateful and honored to receive this recognition, and the scholarship will help me cover expenses like supplies and distance learning fees. Next for me is continuing with the projects I am currently working and graduating with my masters of engineering in spring 2018. I also plan to continue with my studies and eventually get my doctorate in industrial engineering."

ISER's mission is to improve engineering, design, and process systems by developing next-generation computational tools for new systems and products that will assist decision makers in selecting the most appropriate courses of action to resolve issues related to ERDC equities or projects and reduce the risk of the U.S. industrial base.

The GRITS is a nonprofit corporation, founded in 2009 as a chapter of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America and serves as a mechanism to facilitate communication and coordination among its members and other governmental, academic and private institutions and associations. The overall goal is to provide improved access to advanced transportation technology to meet the demands placed on highways, public transportation and interfaces with air, rail and other modes of transportation.

For more information about ISER, please visit www.iser.msstate.edu.
For more information about GRITS, please visit http://www.gulfregionits.org.