{"669803":{"#nid":"669803","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Kya Wiggins\u2019 Dedication to Systems Engineering and Social Impact ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EKya Wiggins, a transfer student in the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Georgia Tech, is passionate about improving systems and ensuring access to resources, especially considering the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on supply chains. To some, this goal might seem daunting, but Wiggins thrives when exploring difficult problems.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u201cI was that kid who loved math puzzles and Sudoku and was always looking for a little thing to solve, so I\u2019ve always liked a challenge.\u201d Through her insatiable curiosity she developed a fascination with business, communication, mathematics, analytics, computer science, and technology.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThese diverse interests led her to discover a passion for industrial engineering and supply chain management. Once she discovered what she wanted to study, Wiggins knew selecting *Georgia Tech would allow her to tap into the best networking opportunities, research, and internships available.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EBuzzing with Potential\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EPrior to her Georgia Tech arrival, Wiggins studied Applied Physics \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Eand \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EMathematics\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Eat Berry College\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EShe was the general manager for Viking Tutoring Services, which pairs Berry students with kids from local middle and high schools. She credits the administrative role with teaching her a lot about solving problems and communicating with faculty, parents and students, and effective methods for setting schedules and handling finances. Throughout this journey at her first college, Wiggins received a lot of support from her family.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u201cMy parents pushed me to do the things I wanted no matter what obstacles came in my way. Or sometimes even things I \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Edidn\u2019t\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E want to do. I learned that once you overcome a small challenge it is much easier to believe you can overcome larger ones.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EAs someone who is focused on making an impact, she felt that going to school at Georgia Tech would best prepare her for this goal.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u201cIt was always the plan to transfer [from Berry to Georgia Tech]\u2013 I liked what they were doing but I wanted to start at a smaller school first. But you always hear about different things the students are carrying out and I wanted to join that community.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ECreating Bonds and Finding Belonging at Georgia Tech \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EEven though transferring to Georgia Tech \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Eto get a degree in dual degree Industrial \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EEngineering\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Ewas always the plan, getting adjusted to a much larger school took some time. To find community, Wiggins joined the influential Black Industrial Engineers connecting with like-minded individuals and pushing her own boundaries.\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u201cOne of the ways I coped with being a young black female was going to clubs to find others who are likeminded. It helped me to make those kinds of connections to not feel so alone not just in \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EISyE\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E but Georgia Tech as a whole.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EWiggins appreciates the collaborative environment of the club and the role models she found there. Additionally, \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Eshe\u0027s\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E actively involved in the Alumni Association and has plans to \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Eget involved with paper \u0026amp; clay\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EI\u2019m\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E most proud of all the different opportunities \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EI\u2019ve\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E taken advantage of during my time as a dual degree student. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EI\u2019ve\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E done undergraduate research in physics and psychology. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EI\u2019ve\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E been a part of some data analytics project teams. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EI\u2019ve\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E worked at the Alumni Association and the Tech Square Research Building. And \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EI\u2019m\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E currently getting my honors thesis published as an article in Physics Review E.\u0022\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EWiggins\u2019 honors thesis, \u003Ca href=\u0022\/\/journals.aps.org\/pre\/abstract\/10.1103\/PhysRevE.108.024205 \u0022\u003ETransition in eigenvalue statistics due to tunneling in a simple quantum system\u003C\/a\u003E, is about how the arrangement of energy levels in a quantum system changes when the system\u0027s behavior shifts from being orderly to chaotic. In simple terms, when a system\u0027s behavior changes from being very predictable to more random, the pattern of energy \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Elevels\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E also changes. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EAfter finishing her first four years of school, she knew her Zell scholarship would no longer cover her tuition and she needed to find another solution to help offset the cost of education. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EEmpowered by the \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/\/www.scl.gatech.edu\/amazonscholarsprogram\/bsie\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EAmazon\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E Scholars Program\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/\/www.scl.gatech.edu\/amazonscholarsprogram\/bsie\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EAs Wiggins completed her first four years of school, she faced the realization that her Zell scholarship would no longer cover her tuition expenses. Determined to find a solution, she turned to the \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EAmazon\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E Scholars Program\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E, a scholarship opportunity her mother had shared with her. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EAmazon\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E scholarships support and encourage under-represented students to consider careers in the transportation, supply chain management and \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Elogistics\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E fields. Wiggins received a financial award of $5,000, to be split over two semesters, \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Efor\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E tuition. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EWiggins admires \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EAmazon\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0027s commitment to process improvement and distribution efficiency, making the scholarship a perfect fit.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0022This scholarship helped me achieve more of a work-life balance to complete my degree instead of worrying about the financial burden that comes with education,\u0022 Wiggins emphasizes.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EFueled by her interest in analytics and her involvement in the Society of Physics Students, Wiggins aspires to enhance scientific understanding and solve real-world problems. She envisions a career \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Eas a supply chain or process engineer working for an innovative company. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EWiggins\u2019 journey exemplifies the power of nurturing one\u0027s passion, embracing community, and shaping a future filled with potential.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EKya Wiggins, a transfer student at Georgia Tech, is dedicated to enhancing systems, promoting access to resources, and has evolved into a culturally responsible engineer. Her pursuits are fueled by support like the \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EAmazon S\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Echolars Program\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A Georgia Tech Student\u0027s Journey in Systems, Collaboration, and Real-World Impact with the Amazon Scholars Program "}],"uid":"36481","created_gmt":"2023-09-20 19:23:52","changed_gmt":"2023-09-25 19:06:28","author":"nesparza7","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2023-09-20T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2023-09-20T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"671771":{"id":"671771","type":"image","title":"Kya Wiggins","body":null,"created":"1695237420","gmt_created":"2023-09-20 19:17:00","changed":"1695237448","gmt_changed":"2023-09-20 19:17:28","alt":"Kya Wiggins","file":{"fid":"254895","name":"Kya Wiggins Story.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/09\/20\/Kya%20Wiggins%20Story.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/09\/20\/Kya%20Wiggins%20Story.png","mime":"image\/png","size":235753,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2023\/09\/20\/Kya%20Wiggins%20Story.png?itok=2tOY91hX"}}},"media_ids":["671771"],"groups":[{"id":"1242","name":"School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISYE)"},{"id":"1243","name":"The Supply Chain and Logistics Institute (SCL)"}],"categories":[{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003ENat M. Esparza, Communications Officer II\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}