Women in STEM Scholarship

As a first-generation college student, wife, and mother of three, my decision to pursue a career in STEM is grounded in purpose. I chose this path not only out of passion for science and technology but also out of a deep desire to create a more equitable and inclusive future in healthcare. I am currently pursuing a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree, and every step I take is shaped by the belief that women have a critical role to play in shaping the future of science and medicine. Throughout my academic journey, I have faced numerous obstacles. I returned to school later in life while working full-time in leadership roles, raising children, and supporting my family. Many people assume that STEM fields are reserved for those with uninterrupted academic timelines or traditional backgrounds. My story challenges that assumption. I believe our industry needs voices that reflect the full spectrum of human experience. Women like me bring more than just academic excellence. We bring empathy, resilience, and the ability to juggle complexity under pressure. My goal is to improve access to oral healthcare in underserved communities by leveraging technology and innovation. I am particularly interested in building systems that streamline care for patients who are often overlooked. I envision creating tools that help dental providers identify coverage barriers early, develop low-cost diagnostic technologies, and offer personalized prevention strategies through mobile platforms. These tools will not only help patients but also ease the burdens on healthcare workers who are passionate about doing more but often face structural limitations. Representation in STEM matters deeply. When young girls do not see women who look like them in labs, clinics, and executive roles, they internalize the belief that these spaces are not meant for them. I want to be part of changing that. I want to lead in my field and use my platform to mentor and uplift the next generation of women in STEM. I believe we do not need to choose between family and ambition. We deserve environments that allow us to thrive in both. This scholarship would not only provide financial support but would also affirm my place in this field. It would help reduce the pressure of balancing tuition with my responsibilities as a parent and allow me to dedicate more time to community outreach, research, and leadership initiatives. More importantly, it would reinforce the message that nontraditional paths are still powerful and worthy. I am pursuing a career in STEM because I want to be apart of the change. I want to drive innovation, break barriers, and use science to make people’s lives better. I want to show my daughters and other young women that knowledge is power and that they have a right to take up space in any field they choose. I am ready to lead with curiosity, courage, and compassion.

One morning, my quick little routine came to a halt. I loved plopping my favorite fruits and milk into the Nutribullet and pressing the cup for a delicious breakfast. But unexpectedly, the motor refused to start. It seemed destined for the trash unless my 12-year-old hands could fix it. After hours of probing and watching YouTube tutorials, I found the frayed fuse and revived my old kitchen friend. I did it. That hands-on problem-solving experience became something I loved, later helping me salvage broken computers and electronics I found in the trash. I sold them on OfferUp, earning extra cash, which was especially helpful coming from a single-parent home. Moreover, it drew me toward STEM, where I routinely applied critical thinking to solve challenges and push the boundaries of what’s possible—a principle I struggled to embody throughout high school due to self-doubt. During this time, I often imagined a ceiling to my potential. I was the middle child of five daughters, raised by my single mother when my father became severely ill. Just as it takes repeated trials to prove a scientific theory, I had to show myself again and again that I could achieve more than I believed, proving I could make a significant impact. This realization began with my entry into the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition in my sophomore year. My team aimed to address the COVID-19 crisis by designing biodegradable masks that were effective and eco-friendly. Our project earned a $15,000 prize, which we donated to the school. It also caught the interest of engineers at the National Institutes of Standards and Technology and the FDA, leading to a year-long collaboration and a presentation at the Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering, and Biotransport Conference in Maryland. Track and field also became a way to push my limits. Starting in my sophomore year, my dedication paid off as I broke school records, won back-to-back New York State Championships, earned All-American honors, and qualified for international competition finals. I am grateful to have been featured on CNN, ABC, the Sherri Shepherd Show, and 20 Under 20 Young Innovators Changing the World, where I had the opportunity to share my journey of pushing boundaries both athletically and academically, hopefully inspiring young girls in STEM as well. I am currently in my second year studying biomedical engineering at Yale University while competing on their Women’s Track and Field Team. I plan to pursue an MD/Ph.D. where I can contribute to medical breakthroughs, especially in neurotechnology. I want to be the beacon of hope to patients like my father whose bodies have succumbed to complete paralysis, helping them regain movement or even the ability to speak again. I’m working towards this goal through research at Yale’s NeuroProbe lab, where since my first year, I’ve been contributing to the development of an implantable brain device designed to manage symptoms of acute brain injuries. Being selected for this scholarship will allow me to dedicate more time to lab work and continue being the voice for women athletics in Yale Women’s Athletic Council. More importantly, it will grant me the opportunity to empower future patients and young girls, showing them that they, too, can do it.

I have chosen to pursue STEM, particularly biology, because of my interest in the natural sciences and what a STEM degree can allow me to do. My interest in the natural sciences started at home before I began schooling. From the moment I could form sentences, I questioned everything about the natural world. Rubbing my fingers in the dirt of my grandmother's potted plants, I would ask her what it was made of and why the plants were in it, years away from learning words like heterogeneous mixtures, nutrients, and organic matter. As my knowledge grew with age, rather than being satiated my curiosity increased. While my interest and curiosity swayed me toward the STEM field, the main reason I am currently drawn to STEM is due to its necessity in making significant progress in the health sciences. With a STEM degree, I can pursue a career in the health sciences and develop scientific evidence-based strategies to provide health-related treatments. While majoring in biology, I am currently working to become a dentist. This career field relies heavily on science and mathematics. Dentistry plays a crucial role in fostering one’s whole health as well as confidence. By using my inclination towards biology as the foundation for a career in dentistry, I plan to leverage the scientific knowledge and skills I gain to provide information and thorough oral healthcare to patients. Pursuing a career in dentistry can heavily contribute to the STEM field. Dentists actively participate in and conduct research studies related to dental health. Dentists can also collaborate with engineers and scientists to develop or improve dental tools, techniques, and technology. This contributes to STEM in the advancement of imaging systems, robotics, and other innovative devices. Furthermore, as a woman planning to be in the field of dentistry, I plan to contribute to the STEM field in a multitude of ways. I desire to contribute to breaking down the gender gap and the biases it creates. Historically, the fields of dentistry, and biology have been male-dominated. By studying biology, and pursuing a career as a dentist I can contribute to the diversification of the STEM field. I can bring a unique innovative perspective to contribute to tackling global problems. By being a visible and successful professional in the field, I can inspire other women to pursue degrees and careers in STEM. I can also serve as a mentor and advocate for other women considering the STEM field. Through organizing programs and events I can help other women develop necessary skills, overcome obstacles, and overall create an inclusive and diverse STEM community. Ultimately, I have chosen to pursue a career in STEM because of the desire I possess for revealing and dissecting the mysteries of biology and because of STEM’s value in the health sciences. By immersing myself in the STEM field I plan to be a part of the field's ability to progress the health sciences and greater goal of bettering the world as a whole. I plan to contribute to STEM, specifically as a Woman, by contributing to diversity, inspiring women looking to pursue STEM, and being a guide and voice for women in STEM. By doing such things, I hope to make a meaningful impact, participate in transformative discoveries, and shape the future of women in the STEM field.