Austin College Students Awarded Texas Society of Professional Engineers Scholarships
SHERMAN, TEXAS — Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE) Northeast Chapter has announced Austin College students Brady Dygert ’25 and Madison Manning ’26 are recipients of $1,000 scholarships. The scholarships were awarded during the TSPE Engineering Week luncheon held earlier this week at the Sherman Municipal Ballroom.
Dygert is a junior, majoring in engineering physics with a minor in mathematics. Manning is a sophomore who has not yet declared a major.
The Texas Society of Professional Engineers is a state society of the National Society of Professional Engineers, an organization whose mission is to promote and enhance the profession and licensed practice of engineering. The TSPE, one of the largest state societies in the United States, was founded in 1936 to serve the interests of the individual engineer in Texas across all disciplines of engineering. Composed of 25 local chapters and eight student chapters, TSPE is the only active, established organization devoting its entire effort to the professional, ethical, economic, social, and political aspects of engineering in Texas.
At the TSPE Engineering Week luncheon, representatives of Austin College shared information about the ongoing development of a new Bachelor of Science degree in engineering to be offered by the College. Currently, the College offers an engineering physics major within the Physics Department. The College is hiring a founding director for the new program, which will serve students like Dygert and Manning who have career aspirations in engineering fields, and address regional need for degree holders in this area.
“The Northeast Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers has always been hospitable to me and to Austin College’s students,” said Dr. David Whelan, Associate Professor of Physics and Engineering Pathways Advisor. “This scholarship opportunity, which awards some of our best future engineers, is just one way that they continue to show their generosity to us. I know they are just as excited as we are about starting an Engineering Program at Austin College.”
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 44 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.