August 13, 2014 – A second-year McCourt School of Public Policy student who wants to improve energy and infrastructure in developing countries has received this year’s prestigious McCourt School Whittington Scholarship.
Akshay Sinha (G’15) of New Delhi, India, won the 2014-15 scholarship for academic and service excellence.
After graduation he hopes to work with governments and organizations that conceptualize and provide resources for energy and infrastructure development projects.
“Having managed the implementation of large projects in both the energy and infrastructure development sectors in developing countries,” says Sinha, who has worked for KPMG Advisory Services in Mumbai, India. “I have realized that many of the key barriers to success emanate due to issues inherent in the initial design of such projects.”
Scholarship and Service
Sinha, who has the second highest GPA in the MPP program, has volunteered at the Irish Wheelchair Association in Dublin and for the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, India.
Last year, he served as the Georgetown Public Policy Student Association (GPPSA) Interest Representative, which involved helping a diverse student body learn from one another’s experiences.
This year Sinha will serve as the GPPSA Treasurer.
Honoring a 9/11 Victim
The annual award is named after then-GPPI associate dean and professor Leslie Whittington, who died on Sept. 11, 2001 with her husband and two small children.
The scholarship is awarded each year from a fund created by the Whittington family to a second-year McCourt School student who excels academically and is committed to service.