Ever since my early childhood, I have been completely enthralled by science. My family encouraged my interests – taking me to museums, performing at-home science experiments, and making sure I had access to every ounce of hands-on learning possible. These experiences with the incredible applications of STEM inspired my passion for scientific exploration and led me to my current studies in chemical engineering, a field with the potential to revolutionize the world for the better in countless ways, from reducing food and water insecurity to creating a cleaner planet. I would never have found this passion without the engaging science demonstrations presented by my family and local community groups. I am quite fortunate to have these experiences–many children from under-resourced schools never get exposed to these concepts, preventing them from pursuing potential scientific passions. Because of this realization, I have become incredibly involved in scientific community outreach during my time in university. Serving others through educational outreach has significantly impacted me by showing me my power to inspire the next generation to pursue and succeed in STEM fields, and I hope to make an impact by continuing to inspire these passions through a career as a future professor. After arriving at my first year of university, I quickly became connected with organizations like the STEM Education Association and the Rocketry Club, which have passionate initiatives to promote scientific engagement in the larger St. Louis community. My enthusiasm for educational outreach has particularly manifested itself through these extracurriculars, where I have taken executive roles to craft hands-on lessons, such as elephant toothpaste demonstrations or paper rocket creations, that have been brought to over 800 students in the St. Louis community. Many of these 800+ students face barriers in their paths to a STEM education, and some have never learned about or experienced science in any capacity before outreach. Through these endeavors, I have seen how engaging STEM activities spark curiosity and inspire future careers, especially for students with no prior knowledge of a college education. By giving back to the city through educational outreach, I aim to provide local children with the same encouragement that fueled my learning years ago. As a future professor, I hope to stand out by providing personal encouragement and career guidance to those in my university community, beyond just academic information. I envision a future where students feel accepted and encouraged to pursue STEM fields, regardless of their backgrounds. While I have found enormous academic fulfillment in my chemical engineering classes, such as thermodynamics or fluid mechanics, nothing is more personally fulfilling than opening someone's eyes to the wonders of science. As a future educator, I hope to positively impact my community by encouraging diverse voices to change the world through the pursuit of scientific and engineering innovation, in the same way that others have supported me since the beginning.

Ever since my early childhood, I have been completely enthralled by science. My family encouraged my interests – taking me to museums, performing at-home science experiments, and making sure I had access to every ounce of hands-on learning possible. These experiences with the incredible applications of STEM inspired my passion for scientific exploration and led me to my current studies in chemical engineering, a field with the potential to revolutionize the world for the better in countless ways, from reducing food and water insecurity to creating a cleaner planet. I would never have found this passion without the engaging science demonstrations presented by my family and local community groups. I am quite fortunate to have these experiences–many children from under-resourced schools never get exposed to these concepts, preventing them from pursuing potential scientific passions. Because of this realization, I have become incredibly involved in scientific community outreach during my time in university. Serving others through educational outreach has significantly impacted me by showing me my power to inspire the next generation to pursue and succeed in STEM fields, and I hope to make an impact by continuing to inspire these passions through a career as a future professor. After arriving at my first year of university, I quickly became connected with organizations like the STEM Education Association and the Rocketry Club, which have passionate initiatives to promote scientific engagement in the larger St. Louis community. My enthusiasm for educational outreach has particularly manifested itself through these extracurriculars, where I have taken executive roles to craft hands-on lessons, such as elephant toothpaste demonstrations or paper rocket creations, that have been brought to over 800 students in the St. Louis community. Many of these 800+ students face barriers in their paths to a STEM education, and some have never learned about or experienced science in any capacity before outreach. Through these endeavors, I have seen how engaging STEM activities spark curiosity and inspire future careers, especially for students with no prior knowledge of a college education. By giving back to the city through educational outreach, I aim to provide local children with the same encouragement that fueled my learning years ago. As a future professor, I hope to stand out by providing personal encouragement and career guidance to those in my university community, beyond just academic information. I envision a future where students feel accepted and encouraged to pursue STEM fields, regardless of their backgrounds. While I have found enormous academic fulfillment in my chemical engineering classes, such as thermodynamics or fluid mechanics, nothing is more personally fulfilling than opening someone's eyes to the wonders of science. As a future educator, I hope to positively impact my community by encouraging diverse voices to change the world through the pursuit of scientific and engineering innovation, in the same way that others have supported me since the beginning.

Born and raised in Springfield, IL, I had a great childhood. Summers consisted of trips to Knight’s Action Park and the State Fair, while winters were dominated by sledding in Centennial Park and birthday parties at Skateland South. While I loved this life, I still had a deep desire for exploration and adventure outside my hometown. I always jumped at the chance to visit Peoria, Decatur, or anywhere else that my parents would take me. When I moved to St. Louis to study engineering, I was excited to discover a multitude of cultures that I wasn’t previously familiar with. Indian food and Balkan cuisine quickly became some of my favorite eats, and the multitude of backgrounds represented by my classmates encouraged me to explore diverse perspectives. As I head into my junior year this fall, I am excited to begin applying for overseas courses to further my understanding of engineering applications on a global scale. Particularly, I hope to participate in the International Experience in Energy, Environmental, and Chemical Engineering, a three-credit course which takes place in Jakarta, Indonesia, each summer. This class is a deep dive into global applications of Chemical Engineering and includes industry tours in the biotechnology, petrochemical, and environmental engineering fields, as well as traditional lecture-style classes. Beyond these opportunities for academic development, the course also includes local experiences and tours to gain an understanding of Indonesian culture and history. Participating in the International Experience would allow me to grow as a person and professional by providing me with first-hand exposure to the Chemical Engineering industry in a worldwide context and an understanding of how differing cultures approach education and working life. Despite all the overwhelming benefits of this study abroad opportunity, the course has a hefty fee of $5000 for participation. Being awarded the Brent Garvin Memorial Scholarship would provide for half of this price and greatly reduce the financial burden of participating in such a rewarding experience. Beyond the International Experience, I have also dreamed of participating in the highly competitive class titled International Climate Negotiation Seminar through the Environmental Studies department. This course accepts 10 participants from varying majors each year to serve as student delegates to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is the largest international policy-making conference on energy usage and climate protection. If I were accepted into this course, I would have the opportunity to interact with global climate leaders from 193 United Nations countries and learn from diverse opinions on environmental protection. If I were to enroll in my senior year, the conference would take place in Australia, which would be an amazing opportunity to explore an unfamiliar country. Participating in this course would engulf me in a deep dive into the regulations and roles of the chemicals industry in an international climate protection framework. As this course only involves one week of travel, beyond the traditional 16-week semester of preparation, the cost is less than that of the International Experience at $3750. If I were to be accepted into this program, the Brent Garvin Memorial Scholarship would therefore provide funding for two-thirds of my fees. Study abroad courses, such as the International Experience in Energy, Environmental, and Chemical Engineering and the International Climate Negotiation Seminar, provide incredible exposure to global mindsets and cultures while simultaneously expanding students’ academic experience. The Brent Garvin Memorial Scholarship would help me participate in one of these opportunities to accelerate my personal and professional growth by exposing me to international perspectives in my field of Chemical Engineering. As I look towards my future, I am excited to continue expanding my perspectives through global experiences as I chase academic understanding and self-improvement.

Ever since my early childhood, I have been completely enthralled by science. My family encouraged my interests – taking me to museums, performing at-home science experiments, and making sure I had access to every ounce of hands-on learning possible. These experiences with the incredible applications of STEM inspired my passion for scientific exploration and led me to my current studies in chemical engineering, a field with the potential to revolutionize the world for the better in countless ways, from reducing food and water insecurity to creating a cleaner planet. I would never have found this passion without the engaging science demonstrations presented by my family and local community groups. I am quite fortunate to have these experiences–many children from under-resourced schools never get exposed to these concepts, preventing them from pursuing potential scientific passions. Because of this realization, I have become incredibly involved in scientific community outreach during my time in university. Serving others through educational outreach has significantly impacted me by showing me my power to inspire the next generation to pursue and succeed in STEM fields, and I hope to change the world by continuing to inspire these passions through a career as a future professor. After arriving at WashU in my first year of university, I quickly became connected with organizations like the WashU STEM Education Association and the WashU Rocketry Club, which have passionate initiatives to promote scientific engagement to the larger WashU community. My enthusiasm for educational outreach has particularly manifested itself through these extracurriculars, where I have taken executive roles to craft hands-on lessons, such as elephant toothpaste demonstrations or paper rocket creations, that have been brought to over 800 students in the St. Louis community. Many of these 800 students face barriers in their paths to a STEM education, and some have never learned about or experienced science in any capacity before outreach. Through these endeavors, I have seen how engaging STEM activities spark curiosity and inspire future careers, especially for students with no prior knowledge of a college education. By giving back to the city through educational outreach, I aim to provide local children with the same encouragement that fueled my learning years ago. My work sincerely improves my community by encouraging students to pursue STEM fields that will allow them to achieve future success. While I have found enormous academic fulfillment in my chemical engineering classes, such as thermodynamics or fluid mechanics, nothing is more personally fulfilling than opening a child’s eyes to the wonders of science. As a future educator, I hope to positively impact my community by encouraging diverse voices to change the world through the pursuit of scientific and engineering innovation, in the same way that others have supported me since the beginning.

My childhood home was always full of singing, screaming, and laughter. Outside, however, was quiet. Growing up in the vast cornfields and wide forests of Central Illinois, I always knew I could find peace in the environment when life was full of hustle and bustle. The sense of tranquility that I found in nature developed into my love of hiking and gardening as I reached my teenage years; hiking being my way of connecting with my natural surroundings and gardening being my contribution to them. I am not only a gardener and hiker but also a scientist and engineer -- I recognize that protecting biodiversity and natural landscapes is essential for the health and survival of humanity. I am passionate about protecting the environment so that the peaceful solitude of the outdoors may be preserved for generations, and so that those generations will still be around to see it. As a result of my dedication to the environment, I am pursuing a degree in chemical engineering to work against pollution in the environment. I am currently involved with a research lab that aims to reduce the technology industry's negative impact on water pollution, and I would love to continue these efforts after graduation. By combatting pollution in our environment, I plan to help decrease the harmful impacts that climate change exerts on human health. It is also necessary to recognize that remediating pollution problems does not solve the problem of climate change itself – reducing pollution in our environments requires that people stop polluting continuously. This is only possible if people, businesses, and countries reduce their carbon footprints. Countless minor things in one’s everyday life can be changed to reduce one’s carbon footprint. However, making a significant difference in your carbon output starts with major changes. If my family or friends asked for advice on reducing their carbon footprints, I would tell them to start big. Some examples include installing solar panels on one’s home to use renewable energy sources; walking, biking, or using public transportation as much as possible; and altering one’s diet to include more local or organic produce and less industrial meats. While simple actions, such as turning off the faucet while brushing one’s teeth, somewhat reduce environmental impact, decisions that require more effort such as those mentioned above are the true game changers when attempting to reduce one’s carbon footprint. I am eager to continue my efforts toward protecting the environment through both my academic endeavors and my advice for others. By dedicating my studies to combatting climate change, I am excited to help preserve the captivating serenity of the outdoors for future generations. Humanity cannot be happy and healthy when natural surroundings cannot thrive. I will forever utilize my passion for the environment to help protect the united future of the Earth and its inhabitants for centuries to come.

Whosh! I can still hear fire shooting out of a plastic jug in my high school chemistry class like magic. Later that month, I handcrafted a functional telescope in my physics class, giving me the sorcerer-like ability to see faraway objects as clearly as through the eyes of a hawk. The source of these new powers wasn’t magic, however–it was science. These hands-on experiences with the incredible technologies science can create inspired a passion in me for scientific exploration and led me to my current studies in chemical engineering, a field with the potential to revolutionize the world for the better in countless ways, from reducing food and water insecurity to creating a cleaner planet. I would never have found this passion without the fun, engaging science lessons from my former teachers. I am quite fortunate to have these early experiences–many children from lower-income schools never get exposed to these concepts, preventing them from pursuing potential scientific passions and reducing our societal capacity for innovation. I aim to teach STEM principles in my community through scientific outreach to inspire more children to pursue and succeed in the growingly relevant STEM field. As an aspiring educator, I have always been interested in enhancing educational access, particularly in STEM fields. This enthusiasm for teaching has particularly manifested through my current position as the leader of Washington University Rocketry Club’s STEM engagement team. In this role, I craft and present hands-on science lessons to PreK through 12 students multiple times per month. I have taught students of all backgrounds and ages the powers of science by showing them how to harness physics to save a falling soldier with a parachute, how to protect sailors from the sea by leveraging the buoyancy of different boat materials, and much, much more. In addition to the events I coordinate on this team, I am involved in other campus organizations with similar missions such as Catalysts for Change, which exposes young women in the St. Louis community to chemistry by giving lab tours and performing experiments. These volunteering events have become the most significant STEM experiences I’ve participated in by allowing me to inspire scientific passions in children, especially those of underrepresented backgrounds who may not be introduced to these topics through other means. These experiences bring me so much joy because they allow me to exercise my innovative and entrepreneurial spirit in their creation while simultaneously inspiring my scientific and academic curiosities in others, so that they may achieve a similar passion in their futures. I would love to continue changing the world through teaching and academic volunteering in the future. My love for educational outreach allows me to change my community for the better by bringing education to as many as possible. Although I enjoy academic or social extracurriculars, I will always have a soft spot in my heart for volunteer organizations such as the WURocketry STEM engagement team and the Catalysts for Change allow volunteers to improve our communities and encourage them academically. I hope my endeavors will one day inspire another young girl to think first of "chemistry!" when she dreams of her future.

Whosh! I can still hear fire shooting out of a plastic jug in my high school chemistry class like magic. Later that month, I handcrafted a functional telescope in my physics class, giving me the sorcerer-like ability to see faraway objects as clearly as through the eyes of a hawk. The source of these new powers wasn’t magic, however–it was science. These hands-on experiences with the incredible technologies science can create inspired a passion in me for scientific exploration and led me to my current studies in chemical engineering, a field with the potential to revolutionize the world for the better in countless ways, from reducing food and water insecurity to creating a cleaner planet. I would never have found this passion without the fun, engaging science lessons from my former teachers. I am quite fortunate to have these early experiences–many children never get exposed to these concepts, preventing them from pursuing potential scientific passions and reducing our societal capacity for innovation. I aim to teach STEM principles in my community through scientific outreach to inspire more children to pursue and succeed in the growingly relevant STEM field. As an aspiring educator, I have always been interested in enhancing educational access, particularly in STEM fields. This enthusiasm for teaching has particularly manifested through my current position as the leader of Washington University Rocketry Club’s STEM engagement team. In this role, I craft and present hands-on science lessons to PreK through 12 students multiple times per month. I have taught students of all backgrounds and ages the powers of science by showing them how to harness physics to save a falling soldier with a parachute, how to protect sailors from the sea by leveraging the buoyancy of different boat materials, and much, much more. In addition to the events I coordinate on this team, I am involved in other campus organizations with similar missions such as Catalysts for Change, which exposes young women in the St. Louis community to chemistry by giving lab tours and performing experiments. These volunteering events have become the most significant STEM experiences I’ve participated in by allowing me to inspire scientific passions in children, especially those of underrepresented backgrounds who may not be introduced to these topics through other means. Teaching others through these experiences brings me so much joy by allowing me to inspire my scientific and academic curiosities in others, so that they may achieve a similar passion in their futures. Working as an educational volunteer strengthens my resolve to pursue a career as a university professor so that I may continue to inspire others to see the magic of science and apply it toward societal innovation. A thriving, prosperous society is only possible with a culture of scientific advancement arising from passionate STEM educators. As a result, it is so important that I serve my community by making science as fun and accessible as possible for students so that more can contribute their innovation to the scientific world. One day, I hope my volunteering and professorship endeavors can open a student's eyes to the “magic” of science principles as I found my passion years ago.

I won my first-ever scholarship when I was in first grade. For the scholarship, elementary schoolers were asked to draw their futures and 7-year-old me drew a brown-haired woman in a lab coat, surrounded by beakers every color of the rainbow, and declared "Chemist!" Today, as I pursue a chemical engineering undergraduate degree, I reminisce on this story as an example of how scientific innovation, exploration, and research have been some of my primary inspirations ever since I was a child. My genuine curiosity surrounding all things academic has led me to take up roles on campus, ranging from pre-professional societies like the American Institute of Chemical Engineers to more social pursuits such as the bowling club. However, my experiences in educational volunteering have always been the most personally fulfilling. I find that inspiring others' scientific passions by communicating my own is the best way of carrying out scientific engagement in my community. As an aspiring educator, I have always been interested in enhancing educational access, particularly in STEM fields. This enthusiasm for teaching has particularly manifested through my current position as the leader of Washington University Rocketry Club’s STEM engagement team. In this role, I craft and present hands-on science lessons to PreK through 12 students multiple times per month. I have taught students of all backgrounds and ages the powers of science by showing them how to harness physics to save a falling soldier with a parachute, how to protect sailors from the sea by leveraging the buoyancy of different boat materials, and much, much more. In addition to the events I coordinate on this team, I am involved in other campus organizations with similar missions such as Catalysts for Change, which exposes young women in the St. Louis community to chemistry by giving lab tours and performing experiments. These volunteering events have become the most significant STEM experiences I’ve participated in by allowing me to inspire scientific passions in children, especially those of underrepresented backgrounds who may not be introduced to these topics through other means. These experiences bring me so much joy because they allow me to exercise my innovative and entrepreneurial spirit in their creation while simultaneously inspiring my scientific and academic curiosities in others, so that they may achieve a similar passion in their futures. My love for educational outreach displays my innovative spirit and passion for scholarly engagement alongside my long history of community service. Although I will always enjoy academic or social extracurriculars, I will always have a soft spot in my heart for volunteer organizations such as the WURocketry STEM engagement team and the Catalysts for Change allow students like me to leverage our academic spirit to improve our communities and encourage others. I hope my endeavors will one day inspire another young girl to think first of "chemistry!" when she dreams of her future.