Feb 20, 2009 - Claremont, Calif. - Harvey Mudd College student Benyue (Emma) Liu ’10 was awarded the 2008 Susan Van Note Memorial Scholarship in January by the Inland Empire chapter of WTS, a national organization for women in transportation.

Liu was one of three Inland Empire college students who were honored by WTS. Also receiving the Susan Van Note Scholarship was Martha Durbin of California Baptist University. The Helen Overly Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Julie Kang of the University of California, Riverside.

“By the time she graduates, Emma will be known as an emerging talent in transportation,” according to Pat Little, professor of engineering and director of the Engineering Clinic Program. Little oversaw a project that Liu and fellow student Tanya Lewis ’10 were part of last summer on the sustainability of public transportation systems in Nanjing and nearby cities in China.

Liu and Lewis worked under the supervision of Xiaodong Zhu, director of the Institute for Environmental Science at the University of Nanjing, who is studying current transportation challenges faced by developing countries with rapidly expanding populations. After their six-week study, they prepared a report of their findings, including policy recommendations to transportation authorities and the public. Their project was sponsored by HMC’s Center for Environmental Studies.