Kellen Haile '18 Wins Competitive Government Scholarship

Bucknell undergraduate Kellen Haile '18, a mechanical engineering major, has been awarded a prestigious SMART (Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation) scholarship from the U.S. Department of Defense. The competitive scholarship program is a federal workforce-development initiative to recruit highly skilled civilian employees in technical fields. Haile will receive tuition and stipend benefits as well as an offer of employment with the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Bethesda, Md., where he plans to focus on materials science and thermal technologies for Navy ships.

Only 14 percent of students who applied for the award in 2017 received scholarships. Haile is the third Bucknell student to receive the award in as many years, and the fifth since the program was instituted in 2006.

At Bucknell, Haile has done undergraduate research and participated in the Grand Challenges Scholars Program, STEM Scholars Program and the Engineering Success Alliance. He is also a member of the National Society of Black Engineers, Mobile Autonomous Robotics Club, American Society of Mechanical Engineers and DiscipleMakers Christian Fellowship.