Seeing a loved one struggle with their health can be difficult. Seeing your mother go through 27 surgeries for her severe disability and serious health conditions is downright painful.
That’s what Hecjenn Urbina-Mercado’s mother endured.
Hecjenn saw firsthand how medical technology succeeds, but he also saw the need for better solutions at different stages of treatment. With the financial support of the inaugural Dr. Phil Hopkins Scholarship , the Gerald M. Eisenberg Family Scholarship, and the Xometry Future Engineers Scholarship, Hecjenn is on his way to a mechanical engineering career with a mission to make the patient journey less stressful for people like his mother.
“My passion lies in improving and creating advanced medical devices for people facing severe physical disabilities and health struggles.”
Hecjenn is pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering at Georgia Southern University, where he serves as president of the ASME Student Chapter. With the support of the ASME Foundation through these scholarships, Hecjenn is excited to organize professional opportunities for his peers, advance his own academic and career path, and develop innovative solutions in healthcare.
About the Dr. Phil Hopkins Scholarship
The newly established Dr. Phil Hopkins Scholarship supports engineering students from marginalized populations to strengthen diversity and attract and retain talent in engineering. The scholarship encourages future contributions to pipeline engineering, the energy industry, and safety improvements for people and the environment.
“Scholarship is about looking forward,” said Dr. Phil Hopkins. “It is about creating opportunities for talented young people who will solve problems that my generation never imagined would arise… I am especially honored that the very first Hopkins Scholar is such an impressive young engineer who excels in determination, curiosity, hard work, and a desire to make a difference.”
The Dr. Phil Hopkins Scholarship is made possible by the generosity of Hermann Rosen and the Rosen Group.
About the Gerald M. Eisenberg Family Scholarship
Gerald Eisenberg, ASME Fellow, had a professional career with the ASME staff that spanned 52 years. He has been a major contributor in the supervision, development, and maintenance of over 500 ASME Codes, Standards and Guidelines. Gerry recently retired as Managing Director, Standards and Engineering Services.
Through this scholarship, the Eisenberg Family hopes to support students who show promise for their future profession, to attract young talent to the profession, and to encourage enrollment and active participation in standards development.
About the Xometry Future Engineers Scholarship
The Xometry Future Engineers Scholarship supports students driven to lead in engineering, especially those focused on advancing critical industries such as aerospace, robotics, and medical technology, and automotive design. Xometry aims to empower the next generation of engineers by providing the resources they need to thrive and overcome financial hurdles.
This initiative is rooted in The Xometry Foundation’s mission of ensuring the future of manufacturing is accessible to all and built for long-term growth. By removing barriers to education, Xometry is investing in a more resilient and inclusive industry where talent alone determines a student’s potential for impact.
