MARTINSVILLE, VA – Kellene Wotring, a senior at Martinsville High School, was recently awarded a $1,000 FIRST robotics scholarship for each year of college.
Wotring is the high school's first robotics team member to ever receive the scholarship.
“I was so excited when I got the call that I had received the scholarship, said Wotring. “It felt like all of my hard work had paid off. This scholarship will help me pursue something that I really enjoy.”
The scholarship is tailored towards students who have participated in FIRST Robotics activities and competitions and who are interested in majoring in Engineering Science.
Wotring has been involved with FIRST Robotics since the sixth grade.
“I was really drawn to the hands-on aspect of robotics. It was a fun challenge to figure out how to make the robots work and I just loved getting to do something with my hands. Once I got to the high school and became a part of MADAWGS, it really opened my eyes to other things beyond robots that I could build,” she explained.
She will be attending Sweet Briar College in the fall and will be majoring in engineering and be a part of the only all-female engineering program in the country.
She aspires to pursue a career in mechanical engineering and to be a Disney Imagineer, who designs rides and animatronics.
Wotring has also received a Presidential Scholarship which covers half of tuition for four years with early admission status.
“The Martinsville City Public family is very proud of Kellene,” said Superintendent Dr. Zeb Talley. “She is very deserving of this honor. Kellene is destined for a wonderful future!”