Minority Women in STEM Financial Need Scholarship

I am the result of an overcrowded city. My childhood memories are filled with the frustrations of standstill traffic, always seeming to be stuck on the first floor during a hurricane, and every story accumulated from having to walk to school where there are no real sidewalks. Most of my childhood has also been filled with piñata beatdowns, jumping off the trees, and the million games of tag I have played. As I continued to grow older, it was through these untroubled moments, juxtaposed by enduring obstacles, that I realized the impact infrastructure has on our daily lives, especially those who reside within the low-income neighborhoods of the inner city. If I could have chosen where I was born, however, I would not have picked anywhere else. My early exposure to these common urban challenges allowed me to garner an appreciation for the role civil engineers play in improving the quality of infrastructure, and thus, the environment. Civil engineering offers an opportunity to engage in all aspects of planning and constructing an infrastructure project to meet goals of development. Rising from the frustrations of my childhood, I am eager to contribute to projects like these, which tackle real-world issues such as traffic congestion, flood-prone areas, and poor walkability. Though I relate to the interdisciplinary approach of STEM through the environment of my upbringing, the field of STEM often negates key fundamentals of an interdisciplinary approach by overlooking the need to consider all different points of view–most notably the woman’s perspective. Whether directly or indirectly, women are excluded from the STEM field. In fact, according to a 2022 report from Data USA, only 17.1% of the over 400,000 civil engineers in the workforce are females. This study reflects persisting gender stereotypes, a work-life imbalance between career goals and societal expectations to handle family responsibilities, and, most significantly, the lack of female mentors present in the field. Under this concern, I am already making an impact on the STEM field by existing as an outlier in an engineering ecosystem dominated by men. Yet, there is still a significant need for greater influence toward young girls who wish to accomplish careers in STEM. I intend to give back to my community in this regard by implementing a summer internship program for high school girls in the Greater Houston area to work alongside engineers and medical professionals from various subfields. My goal is to eventually expand the program to assist at least 750 girls per year, all of whom nominated by a female educator or counselor at their high school. By pursuing civil engineering, I hope to not only provide solutions that resolve the immediate problems faced by my community and similar others, but also provide a long-lasting urban development that young girls will be influenced by. This blend of problem-solving, creativity, and advanced math skills needed for pursuit of this career aligns perfectly with my strengths and qualities. It is not in spite, but in virtue of a disadvantaged upbringing that I have learned the value of self-discipline and setting goals that will change the begotten circumstances of another. Consequently, it is my hope that these interdisciplinary principles of STEM, along with the inclusion of all perspectives in the society affected, will be evenly employed throughout the field in the fullness of time.

Nature is always something that has greatly fascinated me. The way the branches of trees wave “hello” as you pass by, the way plants can make their food, the way water ripples at even the slightest of movements, and the way every part of nature mimics that of human life are all beautiful and captivating. However, I understand that future generations may not be able to experience the true beauty of what we see currently, due to the rapid effects of climate change all around the world that are causing oceans to become acidic, ice caps to melt, increased natural disasters, and so many other effects. This hurts my heart because they may miss out on such an extraordinary part of life. This is exactly why I chose to study environmental science/sustainability studies. Looking towards the future, I want to pursue research with businesses and, possibly, the government on a global scale to combat these environmental issues that are highly prevalent. To combat these issues, it is important to look at the bigger industries inputting these damages and those in charge of actions and laws to create change. This is why I want to try and work closer with them to help enact change from within to create a more sustainable system. In addition to researching sustainable routes, I also want to research more effects of climate change all over. For instance, something that I would like to possibly research and interests me is how changing currents, due to water temperature changes, are causing/may cause migration patterns for many ocean organisms to change. In addition to this, I may also love to research fire ecology due to the increase in wildfires all over the world. Overall, I want to conduct research to further the understanding of the current and possible future issues with climate change and the environment. However, to do what I want, it involves way more than just sitting and watching. My current goal I am working towards is to get a degree at UT Austin in Environmental Studies or Sustainability Studies. This is letting me gain the important knowledge to conduct what I would like to do. Furthermore, I am going to get involved in research and an internship in these last few years of my education to further network with people in the field and gain insight into the many possibilities within my major. Overall, my main goal is to make a difference, no matter how tiny or huge it may be. I want to leave behind a legacy for those after me, and I want to work towards a future that is green and keeps the beauty of nature for future generations.

When we're young, adults always tell us to 'reach for the stars.' Little do they know, some of us take that sentiment literally when we grow up. As a rising sophomore in Computer Science at UTD, I have taken on various projects, including designing and building a solar panel system for an elementary school garden through the UTD EPICS program. UTD was an obvious choice for me, thanks to its renowned programs and ability to support my passion and ambitions in STEM. Growing up in Houston, it was not uncommon for my family to visit the NASA space center. I became inspired to contribute to life-changing projects. I was thrilled that computer science plays an enormous part at NASA, from mission design and planning to robotics, autonomous systems, and numerous other applications. To work as a software engineer/architect at NASA would be the opportunity of a lifetime for me. While a Master's degree is not a requirement in the tech industry, I plan on working towards one in computer science. Many professors and peers have advised me that having a master's/Ph.D. can significantly enhance my chances of securing the desired positions and make me a more qualified candidate, particularly at competitive organizations like NASA. An internship is a golden ticket for a computer science major. In such a competitive field, laying down roots early on is essential. This summer, I secured a spot in Harmony's Alumni Summer Engineering & Research Internship, collaborating with CodeJoy and Hummingbird for skill-building and certifications. Next summer, I aim to join NASA's STEM internship program, particularly working on the groundbreaking Metaverse Project. I am particularly interested in this research as this project merges hyper-realistic XR environments, blurring the boundaries between the virtual and physical realms and enabling unparalleled exploration. I am immensely grateful to have a father who has always been proactive in my studies. Despite his unstable income, no expense is too great regarding my education. However, I know many girls from my culture are often pressured to prioritize traditional gender roles, such as marriage, over pursuing higher education. I am determined to challenge this cultural mindset and prove that young women can pursue education and careers without relying on a male counterpart. This cultural bias also manifests within the tech industry, which remains predominantly male-dominated. Women who break into this industry often face challenges like being overshadowed by their male counterparts. Throughout my academic journey, I have observed that coding and computer-related activities predominantly target young boys. This observation became evident during my senior year of high school. In my AP Computer Science A class, I was the sole girl in 20, including the male teacher. This experience was not only isolating but also disheartening. I am resolute in my commitment to be at the forefront of the transformation, inspiring and empowering young girls by demonstrating that computers and technology are not exclusively for boys and showcasing the potential for women to have successful careers in the tech industry, enabling them to achieve remarkable and life-changing feats. As a woman in STEM, I am fully aware of the challenges ahead. However, I am excited and optimistic about the countless opportunities that await me after graduation. This scholarship opportunity has evoked a profound sense of gratitude within me. Even if I am not selected as a recipient, reflecting on my journey during this writing experience has reaffirmed why I chose to pursue a computer science education. It has rekindled my enthusiasm as I envision the goals I have already achieved and the ambitious ones that lie ahead. I wholeheartedly express my gratitude. Thank you.

The climate crisis is a beast that is in the works of affecting all avenues of life as we know it. The most vulnerable communities to its assaults are low-income communities disproportionately occupied by people of color. Urban areas, which are populated by minority communities, are more susceptible to lower air quality and polluted water sheds. Climate change also increases the risk of infectious diseases which is more concerning to densely populated areas. The affects of weather, such as flood flashes, heat waves and increased frequency of winter storms will be lethal to people in low income communities who cannot afford air conditioning or high quality insulation. Acid rain is a concern for the infrastructure of cities and will affect housing and businesses. To overcome the complex problem that is climate change requires interdisciplinary research in many avenues. Currently, I am in my senior year of pursuing my bachelor's degree for biology. Soon, I will be participating in research labs at UTD. I am interested in going into research to be a part of the force that finds solutions to the effects of climate change. I also am interning for two organizations pertaining to sustainability: Seaside Sustainability and Turn Compost. Seaside Sustainability is a non-profit organization that works to promote sustainability curriculums pertaining to blue technology in schools. I work in the Sustainability Consulting and Blue Technology grant research teams. Within the Sustainability Consulting department I work with schools who are trying to implement sustainability into their establishment by coaching on waste management, water management, curriculum, food services and transportation. Turn Compost is a women-lead compost site that I work for as an environmental intern. I research and propose ways to make the compost site more efficient and streamlined. I am hoping to use my education and experience to become an environmental scientist. I want to develop solutions to save the ecosystems and help disproportionately affected communities. The current housing crisis in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex has pushed many people out of their homes, disproportionately affecting BIPOC communities. Homelessness bars people trying to escape the cycle of poverty. Thus, as the effects of climate change worsen, they will be more susceptible to its attacks. It is in my opinion, that the tools reside in STEM research. Given the multi-faceted nature of the climate crisis, there are many avenues of defense that need to be built in order to give future generations a fighting chance.