When Koen Berglund heads to North Carolina State University this fall, the sky is the limit – literally. The inbound freshman has his sights on a degree in aerospace engineering, a goal that grew from a shared experience between him and his father, Morgan Berglund.
“I’m a West Point graduate myself and was in the army for five years after I graduated, so we have a history of service in our family,” said Morgan, a CBCP and business continuity professional with Truist Banking. Koen also attended West Point’s Summer Leadership Experience and considered joining the Air Force, before ultimately focusing on NCSU’s aerospace program thanks to this family passion for aviation.
“I’ve always been fascinated by aviation, and have also loved science and math throughout all grade levels,” he said. “So combining those into doing something that allows you to work with aircraft, where you’re using a lot of science and math skills, that just felt like the perfect major for me.”
When sitting down to write his scholarship essay on community preparedness, another aspect of aerospace was on his mind, due to recent headlines – industrial safety.
“Literally today, there was an airline accident on the news, so yes, that was definitely top of mind – it instantly clicked when I was thinking about preparedness, I knew that’s what I wanted to do.”
In his essay, Koen considered how his future role as an aerospace professional might help improve safety awareness, writing:
“I could organize educational workshops and seminars in my community to educate people about the principles of aerospace engineering and airplane safety. Topics I cover might include the physics of flight, the importance of regular maintenance checks, and how technological advancements are improving safety.
“I could also collaborate with local schools, community centers, and emergency services to conduct safety drills and simulations. These activities can prepare the community for emergency situations, such as an airplane emergency landing. By explaining the engineering behind safety features like evacuation slides and oxygen masks, I can demystify these tools and emphasize their importance for the flying public.”
Koen expressed his family’s excitement upon receiving word that he had won the DRI Foundation Scholarship for high school seniors. “The news was great – I was shocked, even though I felt really confident about my essay,” he said. “It was kind of kind of crazy to think that I had won, I was super happy, and everyone was down in our living room when it happened so it was really good feeling.”
The DRI Foundation predicts Koen will fly high in his studies this fall. Click here to read his winning essay.