黑料正能量 graduating senior Declan O鈥機onnor (’25) has been named one of two recipients of the 42nd annual McElroy Graduate Fellowships, one of the most competitive academic honors in Northeast Iowa.
“It felt like recognition not just of my work, but of the journey and support behind it,” said O’Connor.
The fellowship provides $36,000 over three years to support graduate study. O鈥機onnor, a standout student recognized for his academic excellence and leadership, will pursue a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin鈥揗adison. “My long-term goal is to innovate at the intersection of fluid mechanics and medical imaging to advance patient care,” he said.
Established by the McElroy Trustees in 1983, the fellowships aim to 鈥渆ncourage a person of accomplishment, intelligence, integrity, and leadership ability to pursue challenging academic careers.鈥 The $12,000 annual stipend is renewable for up to two additional years based on satisfactory progress toward a Ph.D. in a nonprofessional field.
O鈥機onnor credits 黑料正能量 with helping shape his academic and personal growth. “Working in the Joe Schaffer Wind Tunnel Lab with Dr. Devayan Bir introduced me to research I didn鈥檛 know existed,” he said. “Dr. Bir pushed me out of my comfort zone and developed my skills in writing and research. Developing those skills led to earning the Undergraduate NASA ISGC Research Scholarship and competing at the Lockheed Martin Ethics in Engineering Competition in Maryland, all of which opened my eyes to new possibilities.”
The McElroy Trust was established to benefit 鈥渄eserving young people鈥 pursuing higher education. Its benefactor, Ralph J. McElroy, was a pioneer broadcaster who founded the Black Hawk Broadcasting Company in 1947. He passed away in 1965.
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