In February 2015, the Society of Women Engineers’ advisor, Dr. Sezin Kadioglu, approached Jacki Bradshaw, mechanical engineering, and Katie Crowley, chemical engineering, about an Engineering Challenge hosted by the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and PepsiCo. After reviewing the challenge details, Jacki and Katie knew they could create something amazing for this proposal. They sent in their finished proposal to PepsiCo before the May deadline feeling accomplished and hopeful in their research proposal. After several months had passed, they received an e-mail in September informing them they had been selected for the final round of judging.

In order to see Jacki and Katie’s proposal presentation, PepsiCo funded their flights, registration and hotel costs for the National Society of Women Engineers’ Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. At the end of October, the girls flew to Nashville for the conference where they gave their presentation in front of eight PepsiCo representatives. As Jacki and Katie stood on stage with all the finalists and the PepsiCo representatives, their names were called as the first place winners.

“The feeling of accomplishment, disbelief and overwhelming pride have still yet to wear off,” said Jacki Bradshaw. “They told us that sometime this winter we will be flying to New York to present our proposal to senior leadership in the company, as well as take a tour of the PepsiCo headquarters.”

Congratulations to Jacki Bradshaw and Katie Crowley on this outstanding achievement. You represented the OU Gallogly College of Engineering and OU’s SWE Chapter so well! Good luck in New York!