Women in STEM and Community Service Scholarship

The first time I volunteered at Riverside Free Clinic, working alongside a nurse, I remember a patient holding my hand as she explained that she had postponed care for months because she couldn’t afford insurance. Her voice trembled as she described the pain she’d been ignoring. At that moment, I realized that healthcare is more than medicine — it’s access, understanding, and compassion. That moment changed the way I saw science. It wasn’t just a subject I loved in school; it was a bridge that could connect care to those who need it most. Healthcare has always been a global issue, but seeing it up close in my own community made it personal. Many patients come to clinics like Riverside Free Clinic because they have nowhere else to turn. They all have different stories whether it's working long hours, caring for children, or not having any resources they still cannot afford the basic care they deserve. Around the world, the same story repeats itself — children losing parents to preventable diseases, patients delaying care, and in some areas hospitals struggling with limited resources. I want to be part of changing that. In my Biomedical Sciences program, I’ve learned how the body functions, how diseases progress, and how even the smallest cells carry stories of life and healing. But what has inspired me most are the lessons I’ve learned outside the classroom. At Riverside Community Hospital, in the Emergency Department, I help nurses and check in patients and witness how care and kindness can restore a patient’s dignity. At La Casa Wound Specialist, I assist with paperwork, updating charts and my respect grows for those who do the behind-the-scenes– yet crucial work. And at my church where I serve, I’ve learned that healing isn’t always physical — sometimes it’s found in listening, comforting, and showing up. Each experience has taught me that science means little without empathy, and empathy grows strongest when it meets real people. When I lost my grandmother last year, the meaning of healthcare became even more personal. I helped care for her through her illness, from feeding her to helping her walk. Watching her strength fade reminded me that medicine isn’t just about extending life, but about improving its quality. Her memory keeps me grounded in my dream of becoming a Pediatric Oncologist. I want to give children the care and hope that every human being deserves, no matter where they come from or what they can afford. Every test tube I hold, every class I take, and every patient I meet reminds me why I chose this path. Healthcare is my way of giving back to a community that has taught me resilience, compassion, and faith. I plan to use my education not just to treat illness, but to serve others; to make science a source of healing and equality. To me, being a woman in STEM means transforming knowledge into service. It means using every lesson, every late-night study session, and every act of care to create ripples of change. The future I see is one where every patient, no matter their story, feels seen, heard, and cared for. And that’s the kind of future I’m working to build — one act of compassion at a time.

There are many issues in the world that matter deeply to me, but three stand out the most: helping animals, supporting Black communities, and addressing homelessness. These causes are important because they all involve helping those who cannot always advocate for themselves. I care about creating a world where people and animals are treated with respect, compassion, and fairness. Animals have always been a big part of my life. I love caring for them and learning how to keep them healthy. This passion has inspired me to want to become a veterinarian so I can directly help animals live better lives. Even though I am allergic to animals, I have dedicated myself to getting allergy shots twice a week so that I can safely work with them in the future. I have also volunteered at animal shelters and rescue organizations, helping with feeding, cleaning, and caring for pets who need homes. Those experiences taught me patience, responsibility, and the joy of making a real difference, even in small ways. Supporting Black communities is also very important to me. As an African American student, I have seen firsthand the importance of representation and opportunity. I try to use my voice to encourage peers, celebrate achievements, and help create inclusive spaces where everyone feels valued. I also participate in volunteer programs in my community that focus on mentoring and supporting young Black students, because I want them to see that they can pursue any dream, no matter the obstacles. Homelessness is another issue that matters deeply to me. I have volunteered at food banks and community centers, helping provide meals and supplies to families in need. These experiences showed me how even small acts of service can make a real difference. I learned that listening to people, offering help, and showing kindness can give hope to those who are struggling the most. In the future, I plan to use my education and talents to continue creating positive change. As a veterinarian, I hope to open a clinic that provides affordable care for animals, especially for families who may not be able to pay for regular treatments. I also want to continue volunteering and mentoring, supporting my community through service and education. I hope to show others that we can make a difference, no matter our age, background, or resources. Caring for animals, supporting Black communities, and helping the homeless are all connected by one idea: kindness and service matter. Through my actions, education, and future career, I hope to leave a lasting impact on the world and inspire others to do the same.

An engaged citizen not only recognizes the needs of their community but also takes action to address them. My journey into orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) began with a desire to bridge the gap between engineering and patient care—ensuring that individuals with limb loss receive functional prostheses AND compassionate support. While volunteering at Magnolia Medical, I witnessed firsthand the challenges amputees face beyond their physical mobility, from navigating insurance barriers to accessing personalized rehabilitation. These experiences reinforced my belief that engineering solutions in healthcare must be both technically sound and deeply human-centered. With a Bachelor’s in Biological Engineering and a minor in Robotics, I am committed to leveraging my skills to develop innovative, accessible solutions that improve the quality of life for amputees and underserved populations. At Magnolia Medical, I gained hands-on knowledge about treating amputees and fabricating prosthetic limbs. Throughout my time there, I learned essential skills such as modifying molds, pulling test sockets, and constructing various types of prostheses. My mentors illustrated that being an engineer in the medical field transcends numbers and data; it requires a personal touch to truly connect with patients. I witnessed the clinicians going above and beyond for their patients—accompanying them to physical therapy or medical appointments, or providing in-home care for those without transportation. I realized that patients aren’t concerned with the engineering intricacies of their prostheses; they care about being treated with respect and compassion. Quantitative motion analysis is a missing (yet critical) component in O&P clinical workflows. Currently, clinicians rely on visual gait observation, patient-reported feedback, and AMP tests to evaluate amputee mobility. However, these methods lack precision, consistency, and detailed biomechanical insight. The gold-standard alternatives, such as motion capture labs equipped with marker-based systems and force plates, are costly, time-consuming, and impractical for widespread clinical use. This leads to a significant gap in the ability to track patient progress, optimize prosthetic designs, and justify medical necessity to insurance providers. Additionally, the lack of quantifiable data can delay or deny insurance approvals, preventing patients from receiving the prosthetic devices or physical therapy they need in a timely manner. A validated markerless motion capture system, capable of providing clinically relevant data, would revolutionize amputee care by offering an objective, scalable, and cost-effective solution. I am currently pursuing my master’s to leverage markerless motion capture technologies, using pose estimation algorithms to quantify joint angles, joint forces, and ground reaction forces in amputees. By comparing these results to gold-standard methods—foot force plates and traditional marker-based motion capture systems—I aim to bridge a significant data gap in the field of O&P. There is a lack of numerical data to objectively assess patient mobility. By providing clinicians with a validated, markerless system, I hope to equip CPOs with a cost-effective solution that can be easily integrated into clinical practice, making quantitative mobility analysis more accessible and actionable. Validating OpenCap for O&P would represent a paradigm shift in how amputee mobility is assessed and managed, ultimately leading to more personalized, data-driven, and effective treatments for patients with limb loss. My goal is to quickly and efficiently analyze data, giving CPOs real-time insights to track patient progress, personalize physical therapy regimens, and improve overall patient care. I also aim to streamline the insurance approval process, helping reduce wait times for the equipment patients need. By combining cutting-edge technology with practical applications in O&P, I hope to make a meaningful impact on both the clinical and administrative aspects of patient care. As I move forward, I carry with me the invaluable lessons of service, advocacy, and the power of community.

One of the greatest challenges that I know will continue to impact coastal communities is the habitat degradation. This is a social, scientific, and environmental problem affecting areas on local and global scales. It is also a multi-cause and multi-solution problem with some being natural and others being manmade. I am currently majoring in marine biology with a concentration in conservation at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. This issue is important to me because coastal habitats are home to some of the greatest biodiversity on Earth, yet the species in these areas often suffer due to commercial and recreational developments. As well, humans in these areas suffer from losses of natural and recreational resources. Through my minor in Women's and Gender Studies, I have been able to study the ways that environmental degradation hurts the most vulnerable communities, including the poor and the natives. While coastal erosion is a naturally and gradually occurring process, it has been accelerated by human processes. I learned this in 2019 while on a volunteer trip in Costa Rica. Habitat degradation is influenced by coastal development and urbanization, pollution, overfishing, and poor resource management among other things, which is further influenced by overpopulation. Knowing that coastal degradation is a global issue, addressing habitat degradation requires a comprehensive approach. Ideally, the approach implements conservation measures for sustainable coastal management practices, along with involving local communities and international collaboration. One solution that I know exists and is very effective is the implementation of marine protected areas. After completing my undergraduate degree, I hope to pursue a degree in Coastal and Ocean Policy. Specifically, I am interested in the establishment of marine reserves and the negotiations involved. Some additional solutions to this issue are restoration and rehabilitation, legislation, and ongoing monitoring of coastal areas. With the experience that I have in working in a government organization, as well as my extensive volunteer portfolio that amasses over 800 service hours, I believe that one day I will be a key piece in the fight against climate change and habitat destruction. Since I was a child, I have been a loud and passionate advocate for Mother Earth and all of her inhabitants. I strongly believe that we as humans are not greater than nature, but that we exist as part of it. Through continuing to serve the communities I encounter and sharing my knowledge with future generations, I know that I could inspire someone in the next generation to continue that same work. Mentorship is key to promoting environmental stewardship and helping others see themselves as one with nature, and not against it.