Student Success
Student Selected for University Innovation Fellows Program
RALEIGH, N.C. (November 7, 2024) – Wake Tech is excited to announce university transfer student Devin Carhart has been named the college's first University Innovation Fellow (UIF) by Stanford University's Hasso Plattner Institute of Design. The prestigious program focuses on building innovation and making change at colleges and universities.
Carhart is one of 164 college students from 44 higher education institutions in 13 countries to be selected for the 2024 cohort. She is the only community college student in this year's class.
As a fellow, Carhart participated in six weeks of intensive online training and will now work to implement a project that improves the quality of life for students and faculty at Wake Tech. She will also have the opportunity to meet other fellows at a networking event in the Netherlands next April.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," the 19-year-old said of her UIF experience. "I am so excited to represent Wake Tech and have the opportunity to leave a positive impact on the college. I'm also looking forward to connecting with the other fellows. A lot of them are from different countries, and that will be so cool to have connections around the world."
For her project, Carhart plans to launch a Global Connections Club to help foster connections for Study Abroad students and prepare them for international travel. She experienced her first international trip when she traveled to Rome in March as part of her World Civilizations I course. Her idea is for the club to host cultural events to raise global awareness and develop student-based fundraisers and scholarships to help make Study Abroad more affordable.
"Studying abroad is a transformative experience that enriches student's lives academically, personally and culturally, but some students experience nervousness or fear when going on a trip with a group of strangers. I would like to help ease that anxiety."
Carhart said her parents offered to pay half of the cost of her Rome trip, so she worked two jobs while taking classes to cover the rest.
"As I was preparing for the trip, a lot of students said they'd like to go but didn't have the money or support. I don't want other students to have to go through what I did," she said. "Some people might not have the support or ideal environment to help fund their trip, and I would like to change that."
The Rome trip was part of Wake Tech's new Global Education program that offers expanded Study Abroad options, as well as the chance to earn a unique credential called Scholar of Global Distinction. Three exciting trips to London, Paris and Japan are planned for Summer 2025 and central Italy in Summer 2026.
Wake Tech's Communication and Theatre Department Head Emily Moore, Humanities Department Head and Director of Global Education Dr. Rebecca Berry and other faculty guided and mentored Carhart with her UIF application and the development of her project, which was also recognized by Wake Tech's Eagle Innovation Challenge, sponsored by Balfour Beatty and the Wake Tech Foundation. Eagle Innovation Challenge leaders sponsored Carhart's participation in the University Innovation Fellows program.
"We are so proud of Devin and all that she has accomplished," Moore said. "I admire her diligence in completing the University Innovation Fellows training and look forward to seeing her implement her project at Wake Tech in the coming months."
Carhart will graduate from Wake Tech in May with an Associate in Arts degree. She hopes to transfer to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington to study environmental science and become an oceanographer, a career that combines her passion for the ocean and travel.
In the meantime, she's excited about leaving a legacy at Wake Tech that supports Study Abroad opportunities for future students.
"Rome was amazing," she said. "I experienced a lot and learned a lot, and hopefully this club will be a valuable asset for future Wake Tech students interested in acquiring global skills and experience."
The UIF program was created as part of the National Center for Engineering Pathways to Innovation (Epicenter), a five-year U.S. National Science Foundation grant. The program has trained 2,910 students at 314 schools around the world. They range from undergraduates to Ph.D. students.
