Who Can Apply:
- Dr. Andy Nieto was a beloved brother who passed away too soon.
- Dr. Nieto was an FIU MME alumnus where he received the prestigious Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in 2013 for his pioneering works on graphene reinforced ceramic matrix composites. After FIU, he earned his doctorate in materials science and engineering from the University of California, Davis in 2016 and thereafter conducted his postdoctoral research as an ORAU fellow at the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) prior to working as an Assistant Professor at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey. Dr. Nieto was also the recipient of the prestigious ONR-Young Investigator Award in 2021. He was a brilliant scientist whose legacy continues with his exemplary research in the field of materials science and engineering including nanostructured carbon reinforced composites, nano-mechanics, sand-phobic thermal/environmental barrier coatings, nanocomposites, and additive processing. In addition to his scholarly contributions, Dr. Nieto will be remembered by the profound impact he had on his students and the devotion he had for his family. He is survived by his wife Richa Agrawal, his parents Hernando and Janeth Nieto, and his brother and sister-in-law Hernando Nieto Jr and Lindsey Nieto.
- This scholarship seeks to honor the life of Dr. Andy Nieto by supporting first-generation students in their pursuit of higher education.
- Any first-generation undergraduate student who has at least a 3.5 GPA and is pursuing engineering may apply for this scholarship, but students pursuing material science are preferred.
Submission: To apply, submit a 800-1000 word essay OR a short video describing the importance of being a first-generation college student, your desire to pursue an engineering degree, and what this opportunity means to you.
Deadline: September 12, 2024
Amount: $1,200
