My name is Lily Vu, and I’ve been immersed in STEM since the start of high school. For four years, I have been an active member of my school’s FIRST Robotics team, where I’ve learned to manufacture mechanical robot parts, wire control systems for electronics, and lead prototyping projects for competitive robot designs. Robotics did not only teach me technical skills, but it also taught me how to lead. As my high school career progressed, I grew into an effective team leader, helping mentor younger members and ensuring our team stayed focused on our goal to build a well-performing robot for competitions. Outside of robotics, I also pursued independent science fair projects, such as building my own Newtonian telescope and conducting a research project on an ammonia-based fertilizer that uses carbon dioxide. . . a small step toward climate-conscious innovation. My dream is to become a nuclear engineer focused on advancing clean energy solutions. I’m inspired by the urgent need for sustainable energy and the powerful potential of nuclear engineering and technology to reduce humanity’s carbon footprint. I plan to pursue a four-year degree in either nuclear or electrical and computer engineering, followed by a Master of Business Administration. This combination will equip me with both the technical expertise and the leadership skills to innovate in the energy sector while mentoring youth and inspiring them to learn about STEM. I believe my education will be the foundation for meaningful change, not just for my own career, but for how I give back to others. Through higher education, I will gain the advanced skills needed to design cleaner, safer energy technologies and contribute to solutions that combat the climate crisis. I will also be exposed to collaborative research, professional mentorship, and diverse academic communities, and all of which will prepare me to lead sustainable initiatives and support inclusive innovation. What excites me most about this path is its power to create real, lasting impact — both environmentally and for future generations. I want to help develop cleaner energy sources for a better planet, and I also want to invest in future generations of innovators, particularly those underrepresented, like me, in STEM fields. FIRST Robotics shaped my passion because mentors believed in me; I want to be that person for others. As a Vietnamese-American woman in STEM, I understand the challenges of navigating a field where women, especially women of color, are minoritized. That’s why I’m committed to women’s empowerment. I plan to start a nonprofit foundation that supports women in STEM by providing mentorship opportunities, scholarships, and outreach programs that connect young women with professionals and resources. Representation matters. By pursuing higher education, I will be better equipped to build the infrastructure and networks needed to support and empower young women across the country. I hope to be a visible example that inspires others to dream big. Through engineering, I want to build more than robots — I want to build a more equitable and sustainable future. By combining innovation with mentorship and advocacy, I hope to not only improve lives through clean energy but also be a role model to empower the next generation of women in STEM.

My name is Lily Vu, and I’ve been immersed in STEM since the start of high school. For four years, I have been an active member of my school’s FIRST Robotics team, where I’ve learned to manufacture mechanical robot parts, wire control systems for electronics, and lead prototyping projects for competitive robot designs. Robotics did not only taught me technical skills, but it also taught me how to lead. As my high school career progressed, I grew into an effective team leader, helping mentor younger members and ensuring our team stayed focused on our goal to building a well-performing robot for competitions. Outside of robotics, I also pursued independent science fair projects, such as building my own Newtonian telescope and conducting a research project on an ammonia-based fertilizer that uses carbon dioxide—a small step toward climate-conscious innovation. My dream is to become a nuclear engineer focused on advancing clean energy solutions. I’m inspired by the urgent need for sustainable energy and the powerful potential of nuclear engineering and technology to reduce humanity’s carbon footprint. I plan to pursue a four-year degree in either nuclear or electrical and computer engineering, followed by a Master of Business Administration. This combination will equip me with both the technical expertise and the leadership skills to innovate in the energy sector while mentoring youth and inspire them to learn about STEM. What excites me most about this path is its power to create real, lasting impact — both environmentally and for future generations. I want to help develop cleaner energy sources for a better planet, and I also want to invest in future generations of innovators, particularly those underrepresented, like me, in STEM fields. FIRST Robotics shaped my passion because mentors believed in me; I want to be that person for others. As a Vietnamese-American woman in STEM, I understand the challenges of navigating a field where women, especially women of color, are minoritized. That’s why I’m committed to women’s empowerment. I plan to start a non-profit foundation that supports women in STEM by providing mentorship opportunities, scholarships, and outreach programs that connect young women with professionals and resources. Representation matters. And I hope to be a visible example that inspires others to dream big. Through engineering, I want to build more than robots— I want to build a more equitable and sustainable future. By combining innovation with mentorship and advocacy, I hope to not only improve lives through clean energy but also be a role model to empower the next generation of women in STEM.

Family isn't limited to blood ties for me. It was just me, my younger brother, and my mom. We lived from paycheck to paycheck, place to place. I define family as the people who have supported me emotionally out of genuine love, compassion, and kindness. My closest friends, who have been there for me through everything, are family by heart. I know what it’s like to grow up in a low-income household, where my mom was our only source of income, working hard just to cover the basics while still making time for us. That struggle taught me that everyone is fighting battles we may not see, and that even the smallest acts of kindness can ease someone’s burden. That’s why I live by the words: choose kindness, whenever, wherever. These experiences not only sculpted my definition of family but also my identity. I’ve grown emotionally mature and deeply empathetic. I’ve also gained a strong sense of independence, motivated to lessen the weight on my mom’s shoulders. Pursuing higher education is one of the most meaningful ways I can give back to her and to all those who’ve supported me. I also found family in my FIRST Robotics team, a place where I found people who believed in me, the mentors who gave their time, and the community that made me feel like I belonged. The experience I gained was more than just learning technical skills, but also learning to grow as an empathetic team leader and builder. I fell in love with engineering and creating communities that built robots for students to learn. I want to use my passion to foster STEM spaces for youth where mentorship can thrive and a culture where young people feel supported, seen, and encouraged to explore STEM, just like I did when I joined FIRST Robotics. By paying forward what I was given, I hope to strengthen the next generation of problem-solvers and leaders. But the financial obstacles are real. My tuition for a four-year engineering degree, housing, meal plans, study materials, and application fees make it difficult for me, someone from a low-income background, to pay for college. For my family, these are overwhelming financial burdens. Receiving this scholarship would help lift them, allowing me to pursue higher education and continue on this path—not just for me, but for my mom, and for the future students I’ll one day mentor. With this opportunity, I won’t just succeed, but I’ll help others do the same.