Chelsea, a 1996 graduate of Cornell University, earned her master's degree in architecture in 1999 from the University of California in Los Angeles. This year, she will complete her master's degree at Princeton in structural engineering, with a thesis on the conceptual design of bridges.

Her thesis represents a pioneering study of the creative phase in the structural engineers' design when they choose the form, make the essential analysis, outline the construction procedure, and think about the appearance.

Upon completion of her travel, Chelsea will give public lectures at various colleges and universities, which will be made possible through additional stipends. She will give a public lecture at Princeton during academic year 2001-2002.

Awards and honors

Audrey Ellerbee '00, electrical engineering, was named the National Society of Black Engineers Region I Member of the Year.

Silvia Ferrari, graduate student in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, received the 2001 "Deke" Slayton Scholarship Award by the American Astronautical Society. The scholarship honors the former astronaut and is awarded each year to further education leading to a career in astronautics. In January, Silvia was selected as an ASME Graduate Teaching Fellow for 2001-2002, and in February she was named a finalist for the Best Paper Award at the June 2001 American Control Conference. Silvia is studying under the direction of Professor Robert Stengel.

Wilasa Vichit-Vadakan, graduate student in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, has received a Lafarge/EDF-Industry Stipend of Excellence for graduate students. Wilasa's submission was titled "Beam-bending method for permeability measurement and creep behavior characterization of cement paste and mortar." Wilasa's adviser is Professor George Scherer.

Beverley J. McKeon, graduate student in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, received the Larisse Rosentweig Klein Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement in Graduate Research. The award, created by Josette Bellan *74 and Paul M. Bellan *76 in memory of Dr. Bellan's twin sister, recognizes outstanding research achievements accomplished by the third year of graduate enrollment. Beverley is studying fluid mechanics under the guidance of Lex Smits. "I was surprised to receive this award, but I am very pleased to be a part of keeping the memory of a fellow Princeton engineer alive," Beverley said.