We are excited to announce that Celia in Year 11 has been awarded the prestigious Arkwright Engineering Scholarship 2024.
This internationally recognised award is made to hard-working 16 year old students through a rigorous selection process and supports them through their A levels with valuable work experience, support for a curriculum project and a personal mentor to help with aspects of study and career planning.
On track for Formula 1
Celia’s lengthy examination and interview process required her to come up with design for a lockable scooter facility, and to present her independent project – a design for a portable wind turbine for use after extreme weather events which may affect the reliability of electricity.
“It’s going to be really exciting”, she told us. “I want to do motorsport engineering at university with a specialism in aerodynamics. Ultimately, I hope to become a race engineer in Formula 1.”
“It started with building the kit cars in the Junior School and being fascinated by space; I’ve always wanted to work in STEM. There are shockingly few women in engineering, particularly motorsports, especially when you look at the size of the big F1 teams,” Celia explained.
“The extra-curriculars at Putney have been key to helping me find my passion for engineering and mechanics. I really enjoyed the cross-curricular projects like Industrial Cadets and the Physics Olympiad – they helped me draw links between Physics and design, and through that I have found engineering.”
Celia follows in the footsteps of former student and now engineer, Saskia Bulstrode (pictured below), herself an Arkwright Scholar, who is now blazing trails for other young women in motorsports and currently working for Alpine F1.
We wish them both every success.
