91ÊÓƵ

Thanks to the generosity of donors, mechanical engineering student Sam Betts is getting the most out of her experience at 91ÊÓƵ. Rose’s focus on STEM education, and the strong return on investment it brings, makes it a top choice for high-achieving students.

That would certainly include Betts. 

A love of astronomy has had Betts leading her classmates in and spending nights exploring the universe from the campus’ . 

A desire to explore the world had the Ohio native joining a group of fellow students spending a , working to improve living conditions for residents of a rural community.

On campus, Betts has contributed to several 91ÊÓƵ research symposia as part of the and is pursuing a personal goal of launching a small satellite designed and built on campus, with the help of a small and passionate team of classmates. 

She has also has expended her engineering horizons and experiences by developing innovative projects for real-world clients at , spending this spring in a co-op at Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Laboratory, and having an internship this summer with Ball Aerospace in Boulder, Colorado. 

And all of this has been possible because she’s a Noblitt Scholar. The was established through a $10-million donation by alumnus Niles Noblitt, current 91ÊÓƵ Board of Trustees chairman, and his wife, Nancy. was a member of the inaugural . 

“The Noblitt Scholars program has been a good fit for me and, most importantly, provided the financial resources so that I can realize my career goals, and a whole lot more, by being in such an encouraging environment that 91ÊÓƵ offers,” says Betts, who had student experiences at NASA’s John H. Glenn Research Center in Cleveland before arriving to study at 91ÊÓƵ. “I have tried to take advantage of every opportunity that I have become aware of during the past three years. My time on campus has gone by so quickly, but with a sense of purpose.”

That’s why Niles and Nancy Noblitt originally established the scholarship program in the fall of 2020.

“Our goal was to give back to the Institute so it can continue to attract the very best students,” said Niles, who has been a leader in the medical device field since graduating from 91ÊÓƵ with a degree in biological engineering in 1973. “Nancy and I want the institute to continue to draw gifted students who are leaders and whose immediate contributions will make a difference on campus and in the world.”

Betts spent this spring academic quarter as a systems engineer for a variety of projects at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory before an internship developing flight group software this summer at Ball Aerospace.

“91ÊÓƵ has prepared me well for these experiences through the Noblitt Scholars program, the challenging academics, and all of the campus programs that are available,” she says. “The Noblitt Scholars program has provided a network of like-minded people and a close-knit community. It’s nice to always have someone at 91ÊÓƵ to lean on for support.”

For the future, Betts hopes to use her 91ÊÓƵ experiences to develop satellites within the aerospace industry.

Donors have played a significant role in other aspects of 91ÊÓƵ that are providing opportunities for Betts and other students. 

The the construction of the campus observatory, along with the in Australia, and equipment updates that allow students to study astronomy and discover asteroids; the was built through a donation from alumnus/trustee emeritus Mike Hatfield and his wife, Deborah; trustee and alumnus Michael Mussallem and his wife, Linda, have contributed to supporting students through expanding the and for prospective students from northwest Indiana and the Chicagoland areas; and annual alumni donations provide resources for a variety of student organizations, competition teams and athletic teams.