One day, Amy Cheng may help patients see the doctor a little faster.
The industrial engineering student says that she hopes to enter
the field of health care engineering, which examines improving
efficiency within hospital environments.
“Health care engineering looks at
such things as how to reduce bottlenecks
in hospitals,” says Cheng. “As baby
boomers age, this field will become
even more necessary to ensure that the
seniors get health care attention faster.”
The opportunity to study industrial
engineering at the University of Windsor
was made possible partly through the
Dr. Sourinda Dutta Memorial Scholarship,
which provided $1,500 to Cheng during
the winter 2008 semester.
“It definitely helped me a lot with my
education expenses,” she says. “Winning
the scholarship also motivated me to do well. It inspired me to work
harder to achieve my academic goals.”
The Dutta Scholarship was funded in the name of a former
engineering faculty member who died several years ago. University
of Windsor alumni, friends, faculty and staff have contributed to the
scholarship to help it grow. Eligible students must demonstrate both
financial need and applied skills in industrial engineering. Winning
a scholarship enables such students as Amy Cheng to focus on
their studies, rather than taking on part-time jobs, to pay for tuition
and the other costs of their postsecondary education. Indeed,
scholarships are essential in helping deserving students achieve
their dreams and go on to make critical contributions to society’s
well-being.
For example, Cheng says: “I had a
part-time job in first and second year to
pay off expenses, though in third and
fourth year my workload increased and I
didn’t have time. So this scholarship really
helped at a time when I needed it.”
She says she decided to go into
engineering because of her interest in
business and statistical mathematics. “I
thought industrial engineering fit best in
helping me to apply both.”
Chen has already gained valuable
hands-on experience, including a co-op
placement at Hôtel Dieu-Grace Hospital,
in preparation for a career where she
would like to make a positive difference. And the Dutta Scholarship
played a key role in making it possible.
“I just want to say thank you to the Dutta family for the
opportunity to receive it. I am very honoured. This has definitely
helped me in my postsecondary career,” she adds.
The creation of scholarships such as this is part of the
University of Windsor’s Annual Giving Program (AGP). The
fundraising campaign, first launched in 1985, includes a direct mail
campaign, a phonathon reaching out to alumni, and a canvass of
faculty and staff.
Opposite page: industrial engineering student Amy Cheng.
BY JENNIFER BARONE
Making a
DIFFERENCE
“KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION ARE
THE HALLMARKS OF A FIRST-RATE
UNIVERSITY. THROUGH FINANCIAL
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ANNUAL
GIVING PROGRAM, WE CAN PROVIDE
STUDENTS WITH THE TOOLS TO
MEET THE CHANGING DEMANDS OF
BUSINESS, INDUSTRY AND SOCIETY
AS A WHOLE.”
SUSAN LESTER,
DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI AFFAIRS
