Industrial Engineering Senior Earns National Service Scholarship

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Senior Nicole Hayes is the recipient of the 2018-19 S. Balachandran Service Scholarship, one of five scholarships awarded nationally each year by Alpha Pi Mu, the industrial engineering honor society.

Hayes is a Fayetteville native, from an engineering family, so her love for the Razorbacks and the University is deeply rooted. A committed Alpha Pi Mu member, Hayes has served as social chair over the past year. She works to organize many of the events for the local chapter and sees this as a community building effort for the Industrial Engineering Department.

Hayes is working on honors research with Shengfan Zhang, assistant professor of industrial engineering, studying ways to use machine learning and artificial intelligence for mental health. Minoring in Spanish has led to study abroad opportunities for Hayes, and she plans to study abroad in Madrid, Spain during the month of June in order to finish her Spanish minor. After graduation, she will be working with Wright Medical in Memphis, Tennessee, as an Operations Lead-R Associate.

Hayes said she was honored to be selected.

 "This scholarship is such an honor to receive because serving Alpha Pi Mu and the Industrial Engineering Department during my college years has given me incredible connections with my peers and the faculty."

The S. Balachandran Service Scholarship was established in 2016 to recognize outstanding service to Alpha Pi Mu. 

Hayes said she strives to serve in all of the activities she is involved with, whether that be Alpha Pi Mu, her sorority, Delta Delta Delta, her church, or in the community as a whole.

 "I don't just want to participate, but rather be a leader and a reliable volunteer," she said.