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The Tracy chapter bestowed the award on Wilson, a 16-year-old Millennium High student who plans to study graphic design at Brigham Young University, at a June 11 ceremony at the house of Shirley Calvert, the Tracy auxiliary chairwoman. The honor comes with a $100 gift certificate.

Wilson’s work went on to the state level of the competition, where it took third place out of 231 entries. She received an award for that honor Monday at a ceremony in Ontario.

Engineering excellence

Molly Beckler, a Tracy resident who graduated from West High School’s Space and Engineering Academy earlier this year, was awarded University of the Pacific’s Paul M. Sensibaugh Engineering Endowed Scholarship.

This is the first year the honor has been handed out.

Beckler will receive $1,000 a semester while she studies at UOP as a fellow. The scholarship also gives her the opportunity to work throughout all four years of school at a company that deals with her field of study.

She has already started an internship with Southwest Water Co. in Mountain House, and she is considering a career in water and wastewater management or in robotics.

“I intend to challenge myself and get into a career that makes me happy,” Beckler said. “So far, I’m considering a career in robotics, perhaps creating robotic toys.”

The scholarship is part of the Engineering Industry Fellowship program and is supposed to give students in San Joaquin County support in pursuing and completing college degrees in engineering and computer science. It’s named for Sensibaugh, a former city of Stockton engineer and now general manager of the Mountain House Community Services District.

Sensibaugh said the UOP award is part of an effort to keep the best local talent close to home.

“I think it is very important that we try to keep as many of our bright scholars in San Joaquin County after graduation,” Sensibaugh said.

Flying high

West High School Class of 2008 graduate Luke Skye Walker has been awarded a $75,000 U.S. Air Force ROTC scholarship, which was presented in a ceremony at the school May 21.

He earned the scholarship after spending six years as a member of the local Civil Air Patrol chapter. He will remain in the ROTC while he attends California State University, San Jose, pursuing a degree in civil engineering and a minor in aeronautical science.

Walker plans to become an officer in the Air Force after college.

“He’s a very responsible person, and he cared about his schoolwork and his studies, and it’s paid off for him,” said his father, West Walker. “The main thing is he’s always had a goal — he’s always had a goal of being in the Air Force … .”

Several of Walker’s family members have served in the Air Force.

Great grad success

Caitlin Fitzpatrick, who graduated from Tracy High School in 2003, received her diploma magna cum laude from San Francisco State University on May 24.

She graduated with a double major in French and international relations.

Fitzpatrick also earned a black belt in judo the week before her graduation.

She plans to remain in San Francisco, where she hopes to begin an internship with a local nonprofit and continue volunteering with several community groups.