Tau Beta Pi Bestows National Honors on KU Engineering Students


Five University of Kansas School of Engineering students were selected receive financial awards and special recognition from Tau Beta Pi, the world’s largest engineering society.

Graduating seniors Sarah Elizabeth McCandless, aerospace engineering; Megan Godsey, chemical engineering; and Matt Williams, aerospace engineering; received Tau Beta Pi Graduate Fellowships.  Haley McKee, mechanical engineering, and Seth Polsey, computer science, who just finished their junior year, were named Tau Beta Pi Scholars for the 2012-13 academic year.

The three graduating seniors to receive Graduate Fellowships are among 40 students selected nationwide from a pool of 265 applicants.  Tau Beta Pi makes a cash stipend of $10,000 available to each student with financial need to further engineering studies at an institution of his or her choice. 

McKee and Polsey are among 200 undergraduate students nationwide selected from 328 applicants as Tau Beta Pi Scholars for the next academic year.  They will each receive a $2,000 cash award for their studies during their senior year at KU. 

“The accomplishments of each of these students is a shining example of what’s possible at the KU School of Engineering.  It is wonderful to see these students recognized for their achievements,” said Dean of Engineering Stuart Bell.

To be eligible for membership in Tau Beta Pi, juniors must be in the top eighth of their class and seniors must be in the top fifth of their class. All Tau Beta Pi scholarships and fellowships are awarded on the competitive criteria of high scholarship, campus leadership and service, and promise of future contributions to the engineering profession.