VCU news

By David Pulgar
VCU College of Engineering

Enes Kalinsazlioglu is a computer science undergraduate with a dream of becoming a full stack developer. A Wright Engineering Access Scholarship is helping him pursue it in Virginia Commonwealth University’s College of Engineering.

“My family has always faced financial struggles,” Kalinsazlioglu said. “When we lived together in Turkey, they worked hard to support me. Now I am on my own, having come to the United States to pursue a college education. I worked at a warehouse in order to save money for school and grant myself the independence necessary to completely focus on my studies. It was a physically demanding job, but my education was worth it.”

The Wright Engineering Access Scholarship is the College of Engineering’s flagship scholarship program. It provides need- and merit-based awards to a wide range of students, including nontraditional students and community college transfers – and Kalinsazlioglu, a rising senior, reflects both categories. For many Wright Scholars, the award can reduce or eliminate the need for student loans or part-time employment, allowing full focus on academics.

Born in the Turkish capital of Ankara, Kalinsazlioglu immigrated to the United States in 2019. He settled in Richmond, temporarily living in an Airbnb before securing a more permanent home. His father owned a small electronics repair shop in Turkey, where Kalinsazlioglu learned to troubleshoot and solve technical problems. These early experiences with technology led him to pursue a computer science degree.

“My undergraduate work started with community college while I continued to work, saving to eventually transfer to a four-year university,” Kalinsazlioglu said. “I wanted to break the cycle of poverty my family has endured and realize my full potential. After completing my associate degree, I applied to several universities, including VCU.”

When he was offered a Wright Engineering Access Scholarship, “I couldn’t believe it at first,” he said. “The scholarship is exactly what I needed to reduce my strenuous hours at the warehouse and focus on my education.”

Kalinsazlioglu’s transition to VCU from Reynolds Community College was seamless. He credits this to the relationships VCU has with many two-year institutions and to the many other transfer students making the transition with him, many who are now his friends.

In choosing VCU, Kalinsazlioglu cited its diversity as a compelling strength. He spent time on campus interacting with students, faculty and staff before deciding to enroll.

“The Wright Engineering Access Scholarship was a big reason why I decided to transfer to VCU, but the inclusivity at VCU and the College of Engineering made me feel right at home,” Kalinsazlioglu said. “Having worked to make myself a financially independent student, the values and practices of my chosen institution are important to me. My education is at the center of my life, and I am grateful to VCU Engineering for facilitating it. For that reason I continue to be diligent with my studies and maintain a 4.0 GPA.”

Now deep in high-level courses related to his major, Kalinsazlioglu is enjoying his pursuit of computer science. He cites Introduction to the Theory of Computation, taught by Daniel Cranston, Ph.D., associate professor of computer science, as a favorite course because it gave Kalinsazlioglu a new perspective on approaching problems and learning how to think with algorithms in mind. He has secured a summer internship through job fairs hosted by VCU Engineering Career Services.

“Enes performed extremely well in my class,” Cranston said. “He impressed me with his exceptional work ethic, attention to detail and a desire for deeper understanding of the course material, rather than just focusing on getting an answer.”

Kalinsazlioglu advises incoming students to connect with peers and form lasting relationships. “You never know what the future holds,” he said. “The bonds you form in college could be more important than you think.”

The Wright Engineering Access Scholarship was established with a gift from longtime VCU Engineering benefactor C. Kenneth Wright (H.D.L. ’11). For more, please visit https://egr.vcu.edu/giving/weasp/.