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Sauda Aliyu

4,065

Bold Points

8x

Nominee

2x

Finalist

Bio

It was teetering dangerously over the edge-- one more push and our opponent’s robot would tumble into the waiting hands of the other team. “Go, Freezus, go!” I cheered on our BattleBot. Armed with a shovel complete with shiny spikes and treads for maximum friction, our robot was well-prepared for the competition. The other bot inched closer and closer to the edge, and my partner’s eyes and I widened as we watched all of our trial and error, all of our hard work culminate into a final showdown. With one last herculean effort, Freezus’ treads squeaked against the wooden table and down went the other bot. The euphoria I felt at that moment as I high-fived my partner in victory cemented my passion for robotics. The idea of creating something with my own hands and watching it work as intended turned my interest in robotics from a simple hobby and interesting class into a potential career. After that, I immersed myself in the engineering world and took all the engineering classes USN had to offer, even designing an Arduino Robotics Independent Study for myself this year. Because of this, I believe that an engineering education would help me reach my dream job. With this scholarship, I could finally design projects that make an impact on not only my grade, but on the wider community. As a Girl Scout who received both the Bronze and the Silver Award, I've always been passionate about giving back. Merging these two interests and finding a way to design interesting projects that have an impact on a wider scale is my ambition.

Education

Case Western Reserve University

Bachelor's degree program
2021 - 2025
  • Majors:
    • Computer Science

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Computer Science
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Computer Software

    • Dream career goals:

      Senior Engineer

    • English Teacher

      Highflyers Academy
      2021 – 20221 year
    • Team Member

      Moe's Southwest Grill
      2019 – 20201 year

    Sports

    Bowling

    Varsity
    2018 – Present6 years

    Arts

    • Independent

      Music
      Classical Night, Montessori Academy Recital
      2012 – Present
    • Independent

      Theatre
      Side Show
      2018 – 2019

    Public services

    • Advocacy

      C.A.L.M Club — Co-President and Founder
      2018 – Present
    • Advocacy

      Peer Educators and Assistants — Peer Educator and Assistant
      2019 – Present
    • Advocacy

      USN Gender and Sexuality Alliance — Leadership Board Member
      2019 – Present
    • Volunteering

      Community Service Club — Organization Member
      2019 – Present
    • Volunteering

      Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee — Girl Scout
      2014 – Present

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Entrepreneurship

    Rho Brooks Women in STEM Scholarship
    The biggest influence in my life is my community, especially the girls I mentor that inspire me every day. As a Black woman in computer science, I'm passionate about being a person my younger sisters can look up to. Uplifting women and BIPOC voices in any way I'm able fuels my inspiration and my soul. I regularly mentor Black and female youth-- staying involved and giving back to my community in this way is incredibly gratifying. During my summer, I earned my Gold Award teaching English in Nigeria and creating a safe space for elementary-age girls who usually fear going to school was incredibly powerful to me. Currently, I'm majoring in Computer Science at Case Western Reserve University in the hopes of inspiring the women around me, who are traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields, to follow their technologically-related dreams. I'm a first-generation American, with strong ties to my Nigerian community, and the most fervent wishes of it becoming a more inclusive space to women and girls. At this point, however, I simply do what I can to help my sisters feel welcome and at home in any space I can share with them. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship-- I would put the funds to good use towards my education, and work to uplift my community due to the education I would receive. With my degree in Computer Science, I would hope to increase visibility of Black and female individuals within the tech sphere. Currently, there's a lack of women's voices within that space, which contributes to widening inequalities. I would hope to help address those by designing and implementing software that takes into account institutionalized and systemic racism and sexism, and work to foster inclusivity in the creations I would help to make. As a Black female college student, I know that getting an education for many people who share my identity is an incredibly important feat, but one that is difficult for many to have the privilege of getting. Due to many factors such as a lack of representation in the tech sphere, and simply not having many women role models in IT, many female students simply do not see themselves as a candidate for a technologically-related career. I'm aware of the value a college education would have in fostering independence despite a system that does not value the voices of dynamic women, and strive to be an independent woman in STEM that my younger sisters would be proud to look up to.
    Show your Mettle - Women in STEM Scholarship
    As a Black woman in computer science, I'm passionate about being a person my younger sisters can look up to. Uplifting women and BIPOC voices in any way I'm able fuels my inspiration and my soul. I regularly mentor Black and female youth-- staying involved and giving back to my community in this way is incredibly gratifying. During my summer, I earned my Gold Award teaching English in Nigeria and creating a safe space for elementary-age girls who usually fear going to school was incredibly powerful to me. Currently, I'm majoring in Computer Science at Case Western Reserve University in the hopes of inspiring the women around me, who are traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields, to follow their technologically-related dreams. I'm a first-generation American, with strong ties to my Nigerian community, and the most fervent wishes of it becoming a more inclusive space to women and girls. At this point, however, I simply do what I can to help my sisters feel welcome and at home in any space I can share with them. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship-- I would put the funds to good use towards my education, and work to uplift my community due to the education I would receive. With my degree in Computer Science as a Dynamic Woman, I would hope to increase visibility of Black and female individuals within the tech sphere. Currently, there's a lack of women's voices within that space, which contributes to widening inequalities. I would hope to help address those by designing and implementing software that takes into account institutionalized and systemic racism and sexism, and work to foster inclusivity in the creations I would help to make. As a Black female college student, I know that getting an education for many people who share my identity is an incredibly important feat, but one that is difficult for many to have the privilege of getting. Due to many factors such as a lack of representation in the tech sphere, and simply not having many women role models in IT, many female students simply do not see themselves as a candidate for a technologically-related career. I'm aware of the value a college education would have in fostering independence despite a system that does not value the voices of dynamic women, and strive to be an independent woman in STEM that my younger sisters would be proud to look up to.
    Dynamic Edge Women in STEM Scholarship
    As a Black Dynamic Woman in IT, I'm passionate about being a person my younger sisters can look up to. Uplifting women and BIPOC voices in any way I'm able fuels my inspiration and my soul. I regularly mentor Black and female youth-- staying involved and giving back to my community in this way is incredibly gratifying. During my summer, I earned my Gold Award teaching English in Nigeria and creating a safe space for elementary-age girls who usually fear going to school was incredibly powerful to me. Currently, I'm majoring in Computer Science at Case Western Reserve University in the hopes of inspiring the women around me, who are traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields, to follow their technologically-related dreams. I'm a first-generation American, with strong ties to my Nigerian community, and the most fervent wishes of it becoming a more inclusive space to women and girls. At this point, however, I simply do what I can to help my sisters feel welcome and at home in any space I can share with them. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship-- I would put the funds to good use towards my education, and work to uplift my community due to the education I would receive. With my degree in Computer Science as a Dynamic Woman, I would hope to increase visibility of Black and female individuals within the tech sphere. Currently, there's a lack of women's voices within that space, which contributes to widening inequalities. I would hope to help address those by designing and implementing software that takes into account institutionalized and systemic racism and sexism, and work to foster inclusivity in the creations I would help to make. As a Black female college student, I know that getting an education for many people who share my identity is an incredibly important feat, but one that is difficult for many to have the privilege of getting. Due to many factors such as a lack of representation in the tech sphere, and simply not having many women role models in IT, many female students simply do not see themselves as a candidate for a technologically-related career. I'm aware of the value a college education would have in fostering independence despite a system that does not value the voices of dynamic women, and strive to be an independent woman in STEM that my younger sisters would be proud to look up to.
    John J. DiPietro COME OUT STRONG Scholarship
    I creaked open the wooden door. “Are you busy?” Ms. Eberl smiled, then beckoned me in. “I’m not busy.” I obliged, then sank into the comfy armchair across from her rolly chair. “So what’s going on?” she invited. I began to speak, feeling secure enough in the environment of non-judgement to be vulnerable. This scene repeated itself many times throughout my high school career, as Ms. Eberl continued to prove herself to be dedicated and trustworthy. In fact, she went above and beyond. Not only was she a school counselor, she was my advisor and the faculty sponsor for the PEAs. I joined the PEAs, or Peer Educators and Assistants, in a bid to give back to the USN community in the same way that Ms. Eberl had helped me. The PEAs educate themselves and their peers on important issues and emphasize the importance of mental health. From Ms. Eberl, and the PEAs, I’ve learned the value of active listening and being a support system for other students. I plan to continue doing this in college. One of my proudest moments as a PEA was sharing a presentation about OCD. I felt that even in my small way, I was able to help destigmatize this disorder. To pay it forward, I've vowed to join a campus peer support group in whichever college I end up attending.