MANHATTAN — Kansas State University's Elizabeth "Betsy" Voigt, senior in mechanical engineering, McPherson, has won a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Germany.

After graduating from K-State in May, Voigt will attend Virginia Tech to work on a master's degree in mechanical engineering. Thanks to a dual degree program between Virginia Tech and the Technical University of Darmstadt in Darmstadt, Germany, she will be able to spend one year at each university and earn a master's degree from both schools. Voigt said she then plans to work toward her doctorate degree at Virginia Tech.

"I am absolutely thrilled that I've been awarded the Fulbright," Voigt said. "The experience fits perfectly with my plans for the future. I hope to be able to work collaboratively with German researchers throughout my career, and this will give me the opportunity to develop contact with scientists working there and to hone my German language skills."

Voigt, who studied abroad in 2007 at Germany's Technical University of Braunschweig, said she thinks study abroad experiences are important for engineering students.

"I believe that it's very important for engineers to learn to work with and in other cultures, especially since our field is becoming more and more globalized, but, unfortunately, most engineering students don't ever travel abroad or even take a foreign language in school," she

said. "I am honored that the Fulbright Commission has chosen me as a student ambassador to Germany and I will do my absolute best to uphold the standards of the Fulbright program."

Voigt has served as president of Tau Beta Pi, an engineering honor society; vice president of K-State's chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers; and secretary of Mentors for International Relations. She also participates in a percussion ensemble and studio and does honors research. Voigt has been a member of the K-State Orchestra, College Bowl competition and served as a mentor for Mechanical Engineering 101. In addition, she is a member of the St. Luke's Bell Choir.

She has been a Tau Beta Pi Scholar, Annette Kade Study Abroad Scholar, National Merit Scholar and a K-State Presidential Scholar, as well as a member of Pi Tau Sigma, a mechanical engineering honor society, and Phi Kappa Phi and Golden Key national honoraries.

Voigt is the daughter of Richard and Mary Voigt, McPherson, and is a 2004 graduate of Smoky Valley High School in Lindsborg.

The Fulbright Scholarship supports an academic year abroad in more than 150 countries. Selection is based on academic or professional record, language preparation, feasibility of proposed study/research/teaching assistantship project, personal qualifications and some preference factors established by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board and the Fulbright Commissions/Foundations.

Sources: Jim Hohenbary, 785-532-6900, jimlth@k-state.edu; and Elizabeth Voigt, betsyv@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Megan Wilson, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu