Hello from Carnegie Mellon!
During the last academic year, your generosity helped the CMU community overcome so many challenges together. As the fall semester continues, CMU’s campus is alive with energy, ideas and new opportunities. You have played an important role in making this possible.
Your commitment as an Andrew Carnegie Society member inspires our students, faculty and staff to put their hearts in the work at this critical time. Thank you!
In this issue of ACS Insider, I’m excited to show you how ACS members are making a difference. You’ll hear from undergraduate researcher Akwelle “Q” Quaye, who is using the power of data to make a positive impact. You’ll meet Terrel Lefferts, a fellow ACS member and scholarship supporter who’s expanding her career into children’s publishing. You’ll also get an exclusive update on the construction of the new Scaife Hall, where engineering students and researchers will take groundbreaking collaboration to the next level.
Your dedication to CMU is advancing learning and discovery across the university. Thank you for being a part of this remarkable community of supporters!
John Pranzatelli (DC 1980, HNZ 1980)
President, Andrew Carnegie Society
Andrew Carnegie Society President John Pranzatelli
ACS member Terrel Lefferts dances her way to success
Andrew Carnegie Society member and scholarship supporter Terrel Lefferts seized an opportunity to bring joy and movement to children during the pandemic. Together with her daughter, Kaelyn, she has written and published 16 books that use creative storytelling to inspire kids to dance. Five more books are in production.
Terrel and her husband, Robert, are both Carnegie Mellon alumni. This proud Tartan couple established an ACS Legacy Scholarship in 2019 to support the next generation of Tartans.
We caught up with Terrel to discover what drives her work and philanthropy.
Terrel and Robert’s scholarship support helped sophomore Jean Cho pursue her goals at CMU. A double major in art and computer science, Jean is fascinated by the “endless possibilities” of combining her two passions. During her time at CMU, she’s had the opportunity to develop new skills and explore 3D art, motion graphics, and virtual and augmented reality.
Jean is one of 110 students who received an ACS Legacy Scholarship during the last academic year.
Humanizing Data
Undergraduate research grants help students unlock their full potential
Carnegie Mellon University senior Akwelle “Q” Quaye is making their education count.
A statistics and data science major, Q is passionate about improving education equity. As deputy education officer for the ZODAJ Foundation, a student-led nonprofit that fosters economic and technical growth in Africa, Q partnered with CMU’s CS Academy to bring a free, high-quality computer science curriculum to students in Senegal.
Whatever topic Q is exploring, they are committed to leveraging data to make a difference. This year, with support from an undergraduate research fellowship, Q had the opportunity to take their skills in a meaningful new direction. They are examining different approaches to studying how public health outcomes differ during times of crisis, a topic that’s especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the last academic year, 40 Andrew Carnegie Society members contributed to undergraduate research projects.
Across CMU, undergraduate students like Q received 133 research grants and fellowships totaling $344,370, making hands-on learning experiences possible in fields from music to robotics.
New Scaife Hall takes shape with support from ACS
Andrew Carnegie Society members are making space for the next big breakthroughs in engineering. Carnegie Mellon University began construction on the Alan Magee Scaife Hall of Engineering — a new hub for engineering education and research — in January 2021. More than 270 individuals, including 48 ACS members, supported the Scaife Hall Construction Fund during the last academic year.
The new Scaife Hall is expected to open in March 2023, but here is an exclusive preview of the construction for our ACS members.
