AWIS Announces 2024 ‘Shooting Star’ Chapter Awards

March 14, 2025

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Shelley O’Brien
202-827-9798
obrien@awis.org

AWIS Announces 2024 ‘Shooting Star’ Chapter Awards

WASHINGTON DC, March 14, 2025 – The Association for Women in Science (AWIS) is proud to announce the recipients of its annual ‘Shooting Star’ Chapter Awards, recognizing outstanding local chapters for their exceptional contributions to supporting women in STEM fields. The AWIS chapters in Boston, Chicago, Houston, Notre Dame, Philadelphia, San Diego, Seattle, and St. Louis were selected by the AWIS Chapter Advisory Committee based on the information provided in the annual chapter reports. As a result of their impactful efforts, each of these chapters will receive a $375 grant to support community-focused activities that elevate the visibility of women in science. 

“I am incredibly proud of the AWIS “Shooting Star’ chapters and deeply grateful for their unwavering dedication to the AWIS mission,” said Meredith Gibson, AWIS CEO. “Chapters are the heart of our organization, providing members with networking and education opportunities that improve the scientific workforce, engaging in outreach that breaks down stereotypes and inspires future scientists, and fostering supportive local communities that help keep women in STEM.”

Below are the Shooting Star Chapters, and their initiatives recognized by these awards. (The Chapter Advisory Committee also wants to recognize AWIS Baltimore for their social media efforts as well as AWIS Metro DC for their inclusive collaboration.)

AWIS Chicago: Pioneering Innovative Podcast

AWIS Chicago has revolutionized science communication through their outstanding “Innovators & Motivators” podcast and Scientist of the Month initiatives, both entirely produced by dedicated AWIS volunteers. Their compelling interviews with Chicagoland scientists amplify diverse voices in STEM and provide accessible role models for aspiring scientists.

AWIS Houston: Cultivating Versatile Leaders

The Houston chapter stands out for their remarkable leadership development program that nurtures talent within their rapidly growing membership base. They have also employed strategic institutional partnerships, strong communication plans, and innovative programming including their ‘Managing Up’ event and initiatives supporting STEM immigrants and refugees to grow their local community.

AWIS Massachusetts (Boston): Masterful Member Engagement

The Boston chapter has excelled at creating meaningful connections through their innovative ‘Join Me for Coffee’ events and comprehensive leadership seminars. With a focus on member recognition, targeted career development opportunities, professional growth, and personal connection, they have created a vibrant, supportive network for women in STEM.

AWIS Notre Dame: Stimulating STEMinars

AWIS Notre Dame produces an exceptional STEMinar Series that showcases cutting-edge research from professors across STEM fields at the university. Their thoughtfully curated presentations foster valuable connections between students and faculty. They also create an accessible platform for sharing complex scientific advancements with the broader academic community.

AWIS Philadelphia: Pinnacles of Excellence

The Philadelphia chapter grew their membership by 76% last year. With seven points of media coverage and outstanding social media engagement, they’ve established themselves as a model chapter with far-reaching impact. Other innovative approaches included a write-in option for board elections, fully staffed committees, robust programming, and inviting awardees to present at events.

AWIS San Diego: Promoting the Pipeline of Women in STEM

The San Diego chapter has established exceptional programs that create clear pathways for women in STEM, including their innovative AWIS Leadership Network and the Academia to Industry (A2I) coffee chats which they generously expanded to AWIS members nationwide. They also provide numerous scholarships and conduct outreach programs in the local community.

AWIS Seattle: Dynamic Donor Engagement

AWIS Seattle tripled their financial resources by engaging in strategic donor cultivation and hosting their prestigious, annual awards banquet which drew over 100 attendees from both scientific and non-scientific backgrounds. These activities enabled them to award approximately $38K in scholarships to foster the next generation of women in STEM.

AWIS St. Louis: Rising Star

The leaders of the AWIS St. Louis Chapter dramatically increased member engagement and revitalized their chapter through ambitious programming. They established a valuable institutional partnership with Washington University and have proactively leveraged resources from AWIS National and peer chapters to create meaningful professional development opportunities and networking spaces for women in STEM where none previously existed in their community.

In addition to the ‘Shooting Star’ designation, the following chapters are recognized as ‘Star Chapters’ for having demonstrated overall excellence in fulfilling the AWIS mission:


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About AWIS: Founded in 1971, AWIS is dedicated to driving equity and excellence in STEM by championing the interests of women across all disciplines and employment sectors so they can achieve their full potential. AWIS advocacy initiatives are committed to driving systemic change to support the 1.2M women in science and 4M women in STEM. Our supportive community provides a sense of belonging, as well as career resources, scholarships, and opportunities for networking, mentoring, volunteering, recognition, and professional development to over 7,800 members. AWIS communications inspire over 63,000 social media followers, 32,000 monthly website visitors, and 24,000 newsletter subscribers globally. To become an AWIS member, learn about partner opportunities, or donate visit www.awis.org.