Walter ABM Fellowship empowers engineering students

Thanks to the generosity of Thomas and Jean Walter, 10 engineering students have the opportunity to advance their skills in product design and innovation. The Tom and Jean Walter ABM Fellowship, offered through the Thomas Walter Center for Technology Management, supports students pursuing these fields by allowing them to take two graduate-level courses while still undergraduates. Fellows receive $2,500 upon completing each course.

Students with a minimum 3.2 GPA may also accelerate their studies through the Accelerated Bachelor’/Master’s (ABM) program, applying these courses toward both their undergraduate and future graduate degrees. Learn more about some of these students below:

Yusuf Arik

Major: Mechanical engineering

Year: Sophomore

Hometown: Schenectady, NY

Yusuf Arik believes design and product innovation play a pivotal role in shaping the future of technology, and he found it was important to gain exposure to these concepts early in his educational career.

“I have always been fascinated by the process of understanding how products evolve through various life cycles,” Arik said. “I was also particularly intrigued by the factors that determine why some products succeed while others fail during the product development process. As an undergraduate, the opportunity to engage with these concepts firsthand allows me to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world applications while deepening my appreciation for the impact of my education.”

While Arik is unsure of his future career goals, he aspires to be an innovator and a highly impactful engineer dedicated to solving real-world challenges. The Thomas Walter Center fellowship will provide a platform to pursue his goals.

“As companies face increasing customer expectations, success depends not only on technical expertise but also on the ability to innovate, understand customer needs and develop systems that are efficient and adaptive,” he said. “The fellowship has been critical in shaping my vision for a career where I can connect engineering expertise with innovative solutions to address pressing global challenges.”

Thomas Lester

Major: Industrial & Systems Engineering

Year: Junior

Hometown: Montgomery, AL

Thomas Lester has already proven himself to be quite the entrepreneur. His single-use canned beverage, capable of heating faster than a Keurig, earned him third place in the Auburn University Tiger Cage business competition and the SEC Student Pitch Competition.

Product development and design interests Lester because he believes having the ability to take an idea and turn it into a real product that others enjoy is very rewarding.

“My career goal is to use my current business to license the products I have invented to large brands/companies and eventually warrant a buyout for my patents,” Lester said. “If I can successfully sell the business, I would like to get into venture capital. If my business doesn’t pan out, I will likely go into patent law.”

Lester added that the Tom and Jean Walter ABM fellowship has connected him with many like-minded students and professors.

“The information we learn in the fellowship is real world and is highly applicable,” he said.

Vincent Lin

Major: Industrial and Systems Engineering

Year: Sophomore

Hometown: Vestavia Hills, AL

Vincent Lin loves the idea of bringing a product to life from concept to execution.

“It’s something I want to do as part of my career,” he said. “And with engineering being technical, I wanted to explore the more business side of engineering through this fellowship, as it’s the perfect mix of both.”

Currently exploring possible career options, Lin is interested in manufacturing, consulting and data science.

“What I love about industrial and systems engineering, is that it teaches you skills that are going to be very useful in any of those three areas,” he said.

Lin said the fellowship has allowed him to learn about product innovation methods, market strategies, management and intellectual property.

“I’m definitely going to be using these in my future roles,” he said. “In addition, with the program being an advanced bachelor's to master's program, I can reach my goal of finishing a master’s degree faster.”

Erin Olive

Major: Computer Engineering

Year: Junior

Hometown: Auburn, AL

Erin Olive’s interest in product design and innovation has been a driving force throughout her childhood and current academic journey.

“I created an Etsy business to sell and donate face masks during the pandemic, which is one example of my interest in business and design,” Olive said. “Furthermore, I am finishing a minor in graphic design and have completed a business minor, which inspired me to pursue this fellowship to marry the two topics.”

Olive, who hopes to start a business in cosmetics or apparel, said the Thomas Walter Center fellowship has helped her immensely, and she enjoys that the instructors encourage the students to be multidisciplinary.

“The most valuable topics we’ve covered were design thinking, product development and the importance of intellectual property, which are essential in entrepreneurship,” she said. “I would like to give a special thank you to Tom and Jean Walter for supporting me financially with this fellowship. I have been able to pursue a minor in graphic design and complete a business minor in Italy and Spain due to their generosity.”

Jake Stone

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Year: Senior

Hometown: Auburn, AL

Jake Stone’s career goal is to design robots to explore hostile environments.

“Naturally, I’m interested in learning how the design process can be managed to ensure success,” he said. “I would like to work for Boston Dynamics or NASA someday to design the most capable robots. Learning about product design and innovation augments my understanding of how my design meshes with consumers’ needs.”

After graduating this spring, Stone will begin a master’s degree in mechanical engineering focused on robotics.

“This fellowship has helped me pursue this opportunity without taking out student loans,” Stone said.

Ben Tzou

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Year: Sophomore

Hometown: Auburn, AL

Ben Tzou is interested in product design and innovation because it allows him to transform his ideas into tangible creations, develop prototypes and implement them in ways that positively impact others.

“My ultimate career goal is to become a product design engineer or an R&D engineer,” Tzou said.

Tzou added that the Thomas Walter Center fellowship will support him in many ways.

“This fellowship will support me in achieving my aspirations by providing the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to excel in my ultimate career goal,” he said.

Collin Ward

Major: Software Engineering

Year: Senior

Hometown: Andalusia, AL

Collin Ward has always had a strong desire to impact his community for the better.

“I believe I can do this best by developing new solutions and models to everyday problems,” he said. “My education in software engineering, AI engineering and now industrial systems engineering will make me more effective at achieving this goal.”

Ward will finish his master’s in software engineering in 2026. Then, he plans to pursue a doctoral degree and work as a lecturer and researcher for Auburn while building a private company.

Ward said the Tom and Jean Walter ABM fellowship does a great job of providing a broad range of skills and knowledge that apply well beyond industrial and systems engineering.

“I have already used the material discussed to guide my founding of a company,” he said. “The best skill I’ve gained from the fellowship is the ability to oversee and develop a project. I have found myself naturally filling more leadership roles due to the confidence and skills I’ve gained.”