As a young child, Ryan Rogers found inspiration under the hood of the family car working alongside his father, an experienced mechanic. He realized that he possessed a knack not just for figuring out how things worked, but for figuring out how to make things work better. This ability brought the 18-year-old Eugene native to Oregon State University this fall as a first-year engineering student.

Rogers was searching online for scholarships when he learned about one of the largest programs in the country, the Buick Achievers Scholarship, funded by the General Motors Foundation. He applied, and won the prestigious Buick Achievers National Scholarship. Awarded to only 100 students across the country, the $25,000 annual scholarship is aimed at promising engineering students. His winning essay focused on his interest in alternative energy and discovering more sustainable power sources.  Continue reading →