Williams Senior Chosen For Knight-Hennessy Scholarship

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Bingyi Wang, a senior at Williams College, has been selected as a recipient of the Knight-Hennessy Scholarship. The scholarship allows recipients to pursue graduate studies at Stanford University. Wang will be one of 100 scholars in the inaugural cohort.

A physics major from Xuzhou, China, Wang is planning to use the scholarship to pursue a Ph.D. in physics at Stanford. While at Williams, she participated in the Kusika dance ensemble, the Chinese Music Ensemble, and the Women and Gender Minorities in Physics group.

"Williams has allowed me to see and imagine the infinite possibilities that can be created through the liberal arts lens and cross-disciplinary work," Wang said. "Knight-Hennessy incubates a multi-disciplinary and human-centric space that encourages creativity and collaborations. In the long term, I aspire to be a conscientious physicist, using science and technology to improve human lives and promote social changes."

"Not only will Bingyi benefit from everything the Knight-Hennessy program has to offer, as a member of the inaugural class she will also have a chance to shape the program," said Katerina King, director of fellowships at Williams College. "Bingyi is an exceptional student. I don’t think there is anything she can’t do. She was great fun to work with in the application process and we are delighted that all her hard work paid off in this way."

Knight-Hennessy Scholars develops a community of future global leaders to address complex challenges through collaboration and innovation. Every year, up to 100 high-achieving students from around the world will receive full funding to pursue any graduate degree at Stanford, including the J.D., M.A., M.B.A., M.D., M.F.A., M.S., and PhD. programs, as well as all joint- and dual-degrees. Knight-Hennessy Scholars is the largest fully endowed scholars program in the world.

Williamstown Fire Committee Talks Station Project Cuts, Truck Replacement

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:17AM / Friday, April 26, 2024

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Prudential Committee on Wednesday signed off on more than $1 million in cost cutting measures for the planned Main Street fire station.

 

Some of the "value engineering" changes are cosmetic, while at least one pushes off a planned expense into the future.

 

The committee, which oversees the Fire District, also made plans to hold meetings over the next two Wednesdays to finalize its fiscal year 2025 budget request and other warrant articles for the May 28 annual district meeting. One of those warrant articles could include a request for a new mini rescue truck.

 

The value engineering changes to the building project originated with the district's Building Committee, which asked the Prudential Committee to review and sign off.

 

In all, the cuts approved on Wednesday are estimated to trim $1.135 million off the project's price tag.

 

The biggest ticket items included $250,000 to simplify the exterior masonry, $200,000 to eliminate a side yard shed, $150,000 to switch from a metal roof to asphalt shingles and $75,000 to "white box" certain areas on the second floor of the planned building.

 

The white boxing means the interior spaces will be built but not finished. So instead of dividing a large space into six bunk rooms and installing two restrooms on the second floor, that space will be left empty and unframed for now.