The Arkwright Engineering Scholarship, one of the most coveted awards for young engineering talent in the UK, has been given to Kande Sill for her project, “Enhancing Medical Delivery,” which looks into the safe delivery of vital medical supplies, like blood and vaccines, to underprivileged areas via drone.
The 16-year-old’s medical drone design includes a delivery mechanism that is safe and accurate, and it features an insulated, theft-resistant container.
“My project focused on the development of a secure medical drone delivery system to transport sensitive items while preventing theft,” the Year 11 student told her school, UTC Reading.
During the final two years of study, the Arkwright Scholarship offers mentoring, industrial sponsorship, and development opportunities. Later this year, Sill will find out which company will support and guide her as she develops her groundbreaking abilities further.
Her mentor, Vern Brown, praised her rare combination of skills. “Kande brings a rare mix of creativity, technical knowledge, and compassion. She’s not just an engineer in the making; she’s already leading by example,” he said, according to a press release.
In addition to her ingenuity, Sill is a successful writer. Under the pen name Kande S. Summers, she has published three novels, Going Home: Diary of a Teenage Alien, Nala’s Story, and The Lost Destiny, that address a variety of subjects, from gender equality to science fiction.
The teenager also participated in the United Nations Model Conference in Abu Dhabi, represented Jamaica at Expo 2020 Dubai, and was recognized as a youth author at the Emirates Literature Festival.
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Sill is also a Youth Ambassador for the Look Like Me Book Challenge in London, where she contributes to the BBC Children in Need-funded anthology Raised Voices.
Her advocacy was recently highlighted in a campaign by Clear Channel that criticized the lack of diversity in children’s literature.
After finishing sixth form, Sill intends to pursue a Level 6 apprenticeship in mechanical engineering.
She stated, “I’m interested in industries like automotive engineering—working for companies like Jaguar or Mini.”
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