CE grad student V. Dimitra Pyrialakou has received the prestigious Leadership Legacy Graduate Scholarship through the Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS) Greater Chicago Area chapter. She was nominated for this scholarship by Prof. Jon Fricker and Assoc. Prof. Nadia Gkritza, her major professor. Dimitra is now being nominated by the Chicago chapter for the international Leadership Legacy Graduate Scholarship. This is the second year in a row a Lyles School student has received the scholarship.

Dimitra received her Diploma in Civil Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, Greece. She is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in Civil Engineering at Purdue University. Throughout her years of study as an undergraduate and graduate research assistant, Dimitra has worked on several projects involving public transportation and airport operations, and transportation planning and evaluation, respectively. Her Ph.D. research involves the assessment of transit in U.S. rural and small urban areas focusing on passenger rail. There is an increasing interest in public transportation research, especially in such areas, which are at a disadvantage because of the lack of a nationwide public transportation network. Her study attempts to address this need while contributing to the evaluation of the commuter and high speed rail systems that have been proposed in the U.S.

Each year, the Leadership Legacy Scholarship provides a $5,000 award to a young woman pursuing a career in transportation. Eligible candidates are pursuing graduate degrees in transportation or a related field and demonstrate leadership skills and an active commitment to community service. For this year's award, focus is on women who demonstrate leadership in bringing ideas, innovation and new approaches to transportation challenges in the US and beyond.  It includes candidates who have a specific interest in addressing the impact of transportation on sustainability, land use, environmental impact, security and quality of life issues affecting communities around the globe.