Mechanical engineering senior closes 2026 Scholarship Reception
'They allowed me to fully engage in my coursework, research and extracurriculars without the constant pressure of financial stress,’ says mechanical engineering senior Molly Auer on scholarships.
More than 100 scholarship recipients filled the University of Arizona Grand Ballroom in February for an event honoring donors who bolster student success. Thanks to donors, the College of Engineering awarded nearly 661 undergraduate scholarships totaling $1.5 million this year, along with $300,000 in graduate scholarships.
"Student success is supported through community, academic support, research opportunities, student clubs and experiential learning — and woven into every story tonight is the incredible generosity of our donors," Craig M. Berge Dean David W. Hahn told donors. "We truly could not do this without you.”
Mechanical engineering senior Molly Auer, recipient of the Benjamin W. Cowperthwait Memorial Scholarship in Engineering and the Christian Montoya Scholarship, closed the event.
When Auer applied to the U of A, she planned to study statistics and data science. After comparing degree plans, she noticed her first semester differed by only one course – ENGR 102A – and decided to declare engineering despite little prior experience. Awards affirmed her choice.
“My path into engineering wasn’t exactly traditional, but in many ways, that’s what makes this community so special to me,” Auer said. “From my very first day, I felt at home in an engineering classroom. I found a place where math could be applied to real-world problems, where curiosity was encouraged, and where collaboration was essential.”
Her curiosity led her to the Arizona NASA Space Grant Consortium, where as a junior she optimized metal 3D printing techniques. Last summer, she traveled to the Georgia Institute of Technology to research perovskite solar cell optimization, which aims to improve solar power conversion efficiency.
“None of this growth, or any of my personal success, would have been possible without the support systems around me, especially through these scholarships,” Auer said. “These awards didn’t just help pay for school; they gave me something far more valuable: time, focus, and peace of mind.”