Scholarships

The Krenicki Arts & Engineering Scholarships seek to promote creative collaborations between the arts and engineering fields, and are made possible by the generosity of alumni John Krenicki (Mechanical Engineering) and Donna Krenicki (Graphic Design).

Four scholarships will be awarded each academic year – two for students in the School of Engineering and two for students in the School of Fine Arts. Each Krenicki Scholar will receive a scholarship of $5000. In addition, they will form a cohort that will meet on a regular basis to discuss their academic and creative work, and participate in activities centered in the Krenicki Arts & Engineering Institute, including workshops, visiting speakers, and other events.

Who Can Apply

Applications are invited from current UConn undergraduate students pursuing majors in either the School of Engineering or the School of Fine Arts who currently have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above. Applicants should be able to demonstrate existing interests in both engineering and the arts, broadly defined, and a desire to explore this intersection further .

How to Apply

The application window is open from November 1, 2024 to February 1st, 2025. Please click here to apply.

Isabel Angulo

Isabel is a senior Multidisciplinary Engineering student with a specialization in Industrial Design. She grew an interest in both technology and arts in high school, and spoke with the Director of Photography at Pixar who recommended UConn’s emerging interdisciplinary program. Here, she found an excitement for research and working with her hands and looks forward to a career in product design and development. She has previously directed a short film as an intern for a local film company, curated curriculum for UConn’s SPARK program for young girls in STEM, and worked as a project management intern for an engineering firm in her home state of California. Isabel has since accepted a summer internship position with the Museum of Outdoor Arts in Denver, Colorado, and is working with a multidisciplinary team to design and build an
outdoor exhibition for their sculpture park and amphitheater. She loves the passionate, hard-working community she has found through Industrial Design at UConn, and is excited for the hands-on, collaborative experiences to come in the design industry.

Lauren Busavage

Lauren Busavage is a Junior pursuing dual degrees in Computer Science and Digital Media and Design. From a young age, she has displayed a love of the arts and engineering. These passions continue to extend beyond her schoolwork into her extracurricular activities. In her free time, Lauren is involved with the UConn Branch of Engineering Ambassadors, volunteering to lead engineering tours on weekends. During the upcoming academic year, Lauren will serve as one of the Vice Presidents of the Tour Guides branch, managing tour logistics and open house experiences for prospective engineering students. Lauren is also a member of the University Ballet Company and is grateful to have the opportunity to continue dancing, which is something she has done since she was three years old. Managing the Company's fundraising efforts, she is committed to working with the rest of the leadership team to improve the quality of UBC’s productions. Recently, Lauren joined the Digital Experience Group on campus, working to create web applications and other digital media for UConn and affiliated groups. Lauren is honored to have been selected as one of this year’s Krenicki Scholars as she continues her work in both fields of study.

Moera Kamimura

Moera Kamimura is a sophomore studying Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Industrial Design. She has a passion for finding creative ways to intertwine the arts and engineering with the goal of enhancing sustainability, product design, and quality. She also finds joy in transforming thrifty finds into revived second-hand clothing, using skills built over the years and championing sustainable fashion that reflects her commitment to environmental responsibility and waste reduction. Having been a previous Innovation House Learning Community member, she has always enjoyed working on hands-on projects, embracing adaptive learning and collaborative spaces and challenging herself in new creative endeavors. She is honored to be a Krenicki Arts and Engineering Institute Scholarship recipient as she continues this path of sustainability at the intersection of art and engineering.

Eva Kenny

Eva is a Junior studying Design & Tech concentrating in Scenic Design and Technical Direction, and minoring in Entertainment Engineering. She is specifically passionate about computer drafting, sketching, stagecraft, rigging, automation, and set design. She has been working with the Connecticut Repertory Theater on its mainstage shows as well as on student-run projects as a Scenic Carpenter and Painter. Throughout the semesters, she has found it really satisfying to see weeks of work and collaboration come together on a unique finished set. Currently, she is working as an Assistant Technical Director for the summer season, and is excited to work as an ATD and a Props Artisan for CRT productions this year. Outside of work, Eva enjoys coming up with personal projects, learning new skills in other forms of woodworking and painting, sewing
outfits, cooking, and taking creative workshops. She is also a member of Canine Companions assisting raising service dogs. Eva is incredibly honored to be a Krenicki awardee and is grateful for the opportunities and resources the Krenicki Institute offers for students.

Juan Rivera Lopez

Juan Esteban Rivera-Lopez is a Sophomore from Colombia majoring in the Arts. Having delved into multiple facets of the arts, such as graphic design, illustration, prop making, and even a little engineering, he is thinking of pursuing his concentration in industrial design, as it combines all of his interests and skills into one, the same way he continues to find ways to combine arts and engineering in his projects. He started his journey in the Krenicki Arts and Engineering Institute through his passion project of making both visually accurate but also mechanically functional Spider-Man Web-Shooters that he started in 7th grade in Colombia through years of research and were finally brought to life in 11th grade here in the U.S thanks to access to his high school's 3D Printers and other resources. Currently he is not only working on designing an all-metal Star Wars lightsaber, and a full set of Ghostbusters gear with moving parts, lights, and sounds, but also Mark II of his Web-Shooters, which will not only be a sleeker and more compact design, but also combine 3D Printed parts for the device's body with aluminum fluid dynamic and chemical resistant components.

Jada Vercosa

Jada is a senior in Management and Engineering for Manufacturing with minors in both Industrial Design and Entertainment Engineering. Jada has run the gamut of what the University of Connecticut has to offer. But she says few things have made her feel more like herself than her work with the Krenicki Institute. Pure engineering is like a glaring monster telling you that you'll fail with one wrong calculation. But, arts integrated engineering, that's magic. To see issues out in the world and then to have the ability to make something to alleviate them with a creation that you've brought about makes the world an open page. To even just have an idea and to be able to iterate your way towards it in the physical world is a privilege and makes anything seem possible. Jada finds joy in making for the making of it. And she loves to share it with others. She hopes to pursue a PhD in Engineering Education and to continue that work that the Krenicki Institute has done to validate and further the integration of Arts and Engineering. "They are ok on their own, but they are so much more effective together." She is excited to continue her journey integrating arts and engineering and hopes to make it possible for many more to come.

Krenicki Arts and Engineering Institute