2024 Wade Scholars

We are pleased to announce the 2024 Wade Scholars!

Recipients from the USA are from MIT, Columbia, and New York University.

International awardees are from Bristol University, Eritrea Institute of Technology, and Mekelle University.

These scholars will pursue degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Construction Engineering, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, and Structural and Mechanical Engineering.

Click on the pictures for the introductions.

Adedayo

Adedayo Ogunlana

see introductions
Alexander

Alexander Sibhatu

see introductions
Biniyam

Biniyam Lombe

see introductions
Kojo

Kojo Van Dyck

see introductions
Lwam

Lwam Aregawi Haile

see introductions
Runako Gentles Wade Bio

Runako Gentles

see introductions
Meet the 2021 Wade Scholars
Meet the 2022 Wade Scholars
Meet the 2023 Wade Scholars

Adedayo Ogunlana

Adedayo earned a bachelor’s degree in Biophysics from Columbia University and plans to continue at Columbia for a master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering.

Adedayo Ogunlana can see the big picture as well as being skilled in drilling down into its component parts.

On the surface he is a skilled academic, earning recognition as an AMGEN Scholar at the Sahin lab and continuing to work there as a research assistant, participating in the Mount Sinai Summer Research program at Kim Lab, and conducting biophysics club science outreach for middle school students. He has won several grants, earned a spot on the Dean’s List five times, and is a Fulbright semifinalist.

Yet Adedayo has also served as a volunteer in the Mount Sinai Emergency Department and a volunteer for the Wild Bird Fund, demonstrating his understanding of and connection to the real world impacted by the scientific concepts he studies.

It is that real-world impact that inspires Adedayo, particularly as he looks at the cultural influence people of African descent have on American society–sports, fashion, art, music—and how it represents untold potential. He hopes to realize that potential by gaining mastery of electronics, engineering, and medicine to serve as an inventor and administrator of innovative care

“The potential of the African American community is immense if given adequate cultural cues and opportunities to thrive in spaces in which they are underrepresented. My goal is to become a physician-scientist who uses electronic solutions to optimize the quality of care I provide for patients. My part to play is being a Black professional who assures future Black professionals ‘It is possible.’”

Alexander Sibhatu

Alexander earned a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Eritrea Institute of Technology and plans to earn a master’s degree in Structural and Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University.

Alexander wants to build bridges in his native Eritrea, literally and figuratively. Roads, railways, bridges, and buildings that were constructed nearly a century ago are overdue for renovation, but decades of consecutive wars have tapped local resources, leaving both a dearth of skilled local labor and funds for outsourcing upgrades.

He views his education as an investment in actual design, construction, and maintenance projects as well as opening opportunities for others. He wants to be a source of education (if possible, teaching part-time in his former college), employment, and inspiration.

Alexander has found inspiration and encouragement himself from the in-depth practical knowledge he has gained. He participated in a commercial building project within the Ministry of Public Works, testing materials and learning about design software. He worked for nearly four years for a government construction company, coordinating administrative tasks, leading technical project development, performing quality control, and serving as a project site engineer. That experience led him to another site engineer role with a construction company in Sudan.

Great infrastructure has a solid foundation and framework, and that’s what Alexander hopes to gain through multidisciplinary learning opportunities that broaden his horizons and provide him with additional flexibility in his future pursuits.

“I want to contribute to the development of infrastructure and bridge design in my country and to fill the gap of civil engineers with advanced degrees. My long-term plan is to establish a construction and consultancy company after acquiring enough experience and enough money to provide affordable houses.”

Biniyam Lombe

Biniyam earned a bachelor’s degree in Electric and Electronic Engineering from the University of Bristol and plans to earn a master’s degree in Computer Science at Yale University.

In an age where technology has an exponential impact on the spread of information—positive and negative—Biniyam Lombe focuses on the positive. He plans to facilitate technology’s use for good, enlightening and exciting others about possibilities for the future.

Nowhere was this need more evident recently than during the COVID-19 pandemic. Biniyam was a leader in social media activities and weekly webinars promoting accuracy, understanding, and awareness among Ethiopians. He addressed a different need for understanding and awareness while at university—hosting a weekly radio program featuring music and interviews about the history and culture of different African countries.

Biniyam has been recognized for his academic and extracurricular efforts through awards, scholarship efforts, and intern opportunities. The latter included serving as a teaching assistant in an intensive “Introduction to Programming and Algorithms” course, delivering training sessions in public speaking, critical thinking, communication, and self-confidence to primary and high school students in Uganda, and working as a teaching and laboratory assistant at the Addis Ababa University Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Biniyam has also been working to provide families in his community with free, clean, sustainable energy.

“I want to make a positive impact through conducting innovative research and influencing infrastructural change in Ethiopia, to inspire students to work for the scientific and technological advancement of Africa. My future goal is to become a pioneering professor, spearheading transformative research endeavors that address real-world challenges in data privacy and machine learning.”

Kojo Van Dyck

Kojo earned a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from New York University and plans to study Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign.

Much of Kojo Van Dyck’s world revolves around the concept of well-being. For himself, it’s finding peer support related to the pressures of being a first-generation university student abroad, especially if there are distracting economic insecurities. He has also participated in Fitness4Life, incorporating lessons about health and the power of community into his daily regimen.

For the well-being of others, Kojo has numerous experiences that build upon his personal lessons. He worked in the New York University (NYU) Abu Dhabi Office of Undergraduate Admissions helping fellow first-generation students navigate the college application process. He also worked in the NYU Office of Global Education mentoring students in narrowing their career interests and academic pathways.

Kojo interned with Vision Consult, compiling comprehensive data about local agriculture which helped his team win a project bid for irrigation improvements for rice farmers in southeastern Ghana. At SolarShip he and his team pitched an airship Wi-Fi solution to alleviate healthcare overburden in Zambia. And he co-authored a paper with Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi doctors on augmenting laparoscopic surgical tools using off-the-shelf sensors.

As an innovator, Kojo has helped create a fire drill simulation system and design wearable technologies for fitness centers. In all aspects of his life, he aims to turn the theoretical into real-world applications for home and beyond.

“I want to accelerate Africa’s technological reputation, making it a global leader. To realize this dream, I need a capable network, capital, and technical know-how, and I see this scholarship program as a foundation.”

Lwam Aregawi Haile

Lwam earned a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Mekelle University and plans to earn a master’s degree in Construction Engineering and Management at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Many engineers view their work as an end-game puzzle to be solved. For Lwam Aregawi Haile, that puzzle is about prioritizing the human factor at every project stage. After witnessing a building’s collapse, Lwam began an academic journey blending structural engineering with construction management.

During the civil war between Tigray and Ethiopia she contributed to many projects, including food security, building reconstruction, PTSD support, and leadership training. Over the years Lwam has also been an active volunteer tutor and participant in city-administered programs where university students teach summer classes for elementary and high school students.

During a five-month tenure as a building administrator at Ethio-Telecom, Lwam gained additional experience in responsibility while helping to maintain and renovate offices across Tigray. She partnered with a diverse group of professionals and contributed to their district shop being ranked third across Ethiopia for quality and timeliness.

The sum of these experiences has demonstrated the power of valuing people and community, and cemented Lwam’s own commitment to prioritizing diversity and inclusion, especially for women in construction.

“I aspire to contribute to Africa’s promising future by leveraging the increasing labor force in the construction industry. I intend to offer mentorship, specialized training, and programs to empower the workforce, enabling them to meet the growing demand for skilled workforce and integrate their expertise with modern technologies. Additionally, I aim to create opportunities for further education by providing necessary financial support. Collectively, these initiatives can contribute to a thriving future for Africa.”

Runako Gentles

Runako earned a B.S.E. in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and plans to earn an M.S. in Environmental Engineering at Stanford University.

For Runako Gentles, life is a pursuit of balance. Balance between overcoming persistent colonial and slavery legacies and developing the economies of African and Caribbean nations. Balance between adapting to climate change and mitigating future fallout. And balance between a deep belief in the power of science and the power of faith.

As an undergrad, he was a long-time leader in the international Christian movement, Cru, serving to build a strong and welcoming community. He was also former president of the MIT chapter of the civil engineering society, Chi Epsilon, working to raise awareness of sustainability among his fellow students. His own awareness has also grown through engaging with directors, entrepreneurs, and climate activists at conferences, including COP28 where he served as an MIT delegate.

Runako conducted research at MIT on applying machine learning to cluster earthquake time series data. He spent a summer at the University of Southern Denmark doing independent research on circular supply chain resilience. During his time in Odense, Denmark, he also served as a worship leader, gaining more insights into adapting to an audience’s needs and soliciting and incorporating feedback.

A few weeks before graduating, Runako gave a TEDx MIT talk to encourage the integration of sustainable development into more core curriculums. He has earned multiple accolades, including being a 2024 Rhodes Scholarship Finalist for Jamaica. But merging his passion areas to make meaningful and long-lasting change would be his ultimate achievement.

“I want to use my expertise in sustainability and environmental engineering to help meet the urgent adaptation needs of small island developing nations and other regions most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. I envision pursuing several startups in the Caribbean that support sustainable development, such as startups related to water treatment and renewable energy.”

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