Kwayu recognized with scholarship from transportation group

Keneth Kwayu, a graduate student in WMU’s Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, recently was awarded a $3,000 scholarship from the Michigan Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE).  Kwayu will be recognized at the Michigan Section’s annual meeting Dec. 8 in Farmington Hills, Mich. 

“We are pleased that one of our students received this award,” said Dr. Jun-Seok Oh, professor of civil and construction engineering. “It is great to see his hard work and contribution rewarded.”

Kwayu will graduate this month with his master’s degree in civil engineering, majoring in transportation, and will be starting his Ph.D. in civil engineering at WMU spring semester.  Originally from Tanzania, he came to WMU in fall 2014 to work on his master’s degree. He has served as a research assistant at the Transportation Research Center for Livable Communities (TRCLC) for two and half years, working on research pertaining to safety and operational aspects of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, bicyclists and older populations. 

“For my doctoral program, I am planning to do more research on these groups of road users,” Kwayu said. “ With the advancement of new technologies in transportation,  such as connected vehicles and other related technologies, it is important to address their safety and mobility concerns.”

He said the scholarship is a reflection of the overall quality of education that the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences offers its students.  “Being recognized with this scholarship from the Institute of Transportation Engineers also has inspired me to work harder in achieving my academic and career goals,” Kwayu said.

The Institute of Transportation Engineers is an international educational and scientific association of transportation professionals who are responsible for meeting mobility and safety needs.