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High School and Saint Mary's Student Scholarship Recipients: Tess Gundacker, Nilab Ahmed, Liesel Hilkemeyer, LaReina Torres, Briana Alexander, Sophia Gonzales Photo provided
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The American Association of University Women Orinda-Moraga-Lafayette Branch recently held a Celebration of Excellence honoring 13 local middle school, high school, and Saint Mary's College students.
Seven seventh-grade middle school girls received scholarships to Tech Trek, a weeklong STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) immersion program held this coming July at Sonoma State University. Tech Trek is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The camp is designed to encourage rising eighth-grade girls to persist with their excitement about STEM through high school, college, and into their careers. The program features numerous hands-on activities as well as a chance for the girls to make friends with other girls interested in STEM and to meet professional women in STEM fields.
The following students will attend camp: Ally Rogin and Sophie Westin (Orinda Intermediate School), Evelyn Hollenberg and Thea Wilberts (Stanley Middle School) and Morgan Butler, Adelaide Chan and Vasilisa Pridatko (Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School).
Three graduating high school students were awarded scholarships: Tess Gundacker (Acalanes), Nilab Ahmed (Miramonte), and Liesel Hilkemeyer (Campolindo). Sophomore and junior members of the High Potential program at Saint Mary's College also received scholarships: Briana Alexander, Sophia Gonzales and LaReina Torres.
The selection criteria for these high school and college scholarships are academic excellence, community service and leadership. In addition to outstanding grades, these students demonstrated a desire to help others by volunteering in their schools, local volunteer agencies and global programs.
Students, family, and friends along with branch members attended the event which featured keynote speaker Molly Mudgett, a prototyping engineer at Apple. Molly attended Tech Trek in 2013 and continues to volunteer in the program. She graduated from Acalanes High School and received her bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering at Northwestern. While sharing the experiences that led to her job at Apple, she highlighted the importance of young women working equitably and comfortably in the STEM field.
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| Tech Trek Scholarship Recipients: Ally Rogin, Sophie Westin, Thea Wilberts, Evelyn Hollenberg, Adelaide Chan, Vasy Pridatko, Morgan Butler, with Molly Mudgett, keynote speaker and 2013 Tech Trek graduate Photo provided |
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA