AWIS is delighted to present scholarships that empower women at different stages of their STEM careers. This year, the Educational Awards Committee has selected Shahzarin Khan to receive the AWIS Distinguished Doctoral Research Scholarship. The AWIS First Generation College Scholarship was awarded to Eve Heeley-Ray, Katie Helwick, Amanda Nordquist-Rodriguez, and Taylor Rossiter. The AWIS Career Re-Entry Scholarships were awarded to Cathy Van Bui and Aurelia Valente. The Dr. Vicki L. Schectman Scholarship was awarded to Christina Rasa, and the Kirsten R. Lorentzen Award was awarded to Sunny Rasmussen.
“AWIS is delighted to honor nine outstanding members with scholarships this year and to recognize their unwavering commitment to advancing their education in STEM. We eagerly anticipate the remarkable achievements these recipients will accomplish in their future careers.” stated Meredith Gibson, CEO of AWIS.
A huge thank you to this year’s Educational Awards Committee: Dr. Karen Yee, Justine Gray, Dr. Karen Bjorkman, Lauren Schechtman, Dr. Jessica Myers, Dr. Brandy Phipps, Dr. Jenessa Smith, Dr. Priti Mulimani, Dr. Gauri Kulkarni, Dr. Ambika Eranki, Dr. Katarzyna Kempinska, Eileen Collyer, Dr. Chandani Sen and Abosede Salami.
Meet the 2024 AWIS Scholarship recipients:
Career Re-Entry
Aurelia Valente (she/they) is a biology graduate student from Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is currently studying adaptability and accessibility in biological education, communication, and research through Miami University’s Project Dragonfly Global Field Program. She will begin coursework for her PhD in comparative behavioral biology at The University of New Mexico in August 2024. She is a Hubbard Brook Research Foundation’s “Young Voices in Science” program alum and gave a presentation on disability inclusion in STEM higher education at Miami University’s 2024 RedHawk Talks.
Cathy Van Bui is an aspiring neuroscientist interested in Alzheimer’s research. She is very excited to be in Boston to get immersed in an ever-growing biomedical field. Being a member of AWIS for the past two years has opened many opportunities for her to build her career and to meet wonderful people. She is deeply grateful for the 2024 Career Re-Entry Scholarship. She will use this award to attend an intensive molecular biology workshop to sharpen her laboratory skills as well as to learn new techniques.
Distinguished Doctoral Research Scholarship
Shahzarin Khan is a PhD candidate in Health Behavior at Indiana University Bloomington. Born and raised in India, her research focuses on the sexual health of South Asian women. Through her work, she aims to promote healthy sexual and romantic relationships for young people in South Asia. In her previous roles in India, she has worked in grant management, operations, and program monitoring on the themes of abortion, sexuality education, and gender-based violence. She has a multidisciplinary academic background with a bachelor’s degree in engineering, a master’s in economics from Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS Pilani), and a postgraduate diploma in liberal arts from Ashoka University.
First-Generation College Student Scholarship
Eve Heeley-Ray has always been inspired by nature. She grew up on the Big Island of Hawaii and followed her heart to the Rocky Mountains of the West. Walking across the lava rock and the mountain slopes, she appreciated the intricacies of different species and their interactions and the interconnectedness of everything. She committed her life to protecting the natural world so that future generations could also stand in awe of its beauty. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in soil and water science at Montana State University. The generous AWIS scholarship will help her prioritize her education.
Katie Helwick is an honors program student at the University of Pittsburgh. She has lived in Pittsburgh all her life. She is on a 6-year pharmacy track where she will obtain a BS in Pharmaceutical Science and a Doctor of Pharmacy. She is involved in various extracurriculars relating to pharmacy, women in healthcare, service, leadership development and enjoys reading, watching movies with family, and water skiing. She intends to apply to pharmacy school this summer and will utilize the scholarship funds to cover the application fee, background check, professional attire for interviews, and other college and living expenses. She aspires to become a pharmacist to make a positive impact on people’s lives.
Amanda Nordquist-Rodriguez is completing general education requirements for a biochemistry bachelor’s program while simultaneously earning a hands-on Biotech Lab Certification at Fullerton College (completion 2025). This dual focus allows her to explore the field through a practical lens. Upon graduation, she plans to transition into a full-time bachelor’s program or contribute to the scientific community through a lab position while pursuing a degree part-time. Her goal is to pursue a higher degree, refine her skills, and contribute to breakthroughs in genetic disorder research. This scholarship will help her achieve these ambitious goals and maintain a healthy school-work-life balance.
Taylor Rossiter is a first-generation student at York College of Pennsylvania majoring in biology, with a concentration in cellular and molecular biology, and a minor in chemistry. She is planning on obtaining her PhD in biochemistry and to working in the field of infectious diseases. Rossiter’s current research focuses on identifying novel antibacterial compounds from soil bacteria to combat the antibiotic resistance crisis. She is currently investigating a stenothricin-like molecule she uncovered from the soil bacteria Paenarthrobacter nicotinovorans using a CRISPR Cas9 gene editing system and hopes to publish her findings.
Kirsten R. Lorentzen Award
Sunny Rasmussen studies physics, astronomy, and political science at The University of Utah. She aspires to become an astrophysicist and work at NASA Headquarters in Washington DC. She is also interested in policy and hopes to become part of the NASA Administration team. She is a member of the Society of Physics Students and serves as Outreach Chairman for her local chapter. In her spare time, she enjoys sewing and playing volleyball.
Dr. Vicki L. Schechtman Scholarship
Christina Rasa is a sophomore at Misericordia University majoring in biology with minors in chemistry and statistics. She is passionate about applying biological systems to improve human health. At Misericordia, she is conducting her own research to develop a cell-free, f luorescent ATP sensor. She is particularly interested in how ATP levels affect neurodegenerative diseases, specifically Sanfilippo syndrome, a form of childhood dementia. Rasa plans to pursue a PhD in molecular biology and a career in biomedical research. She enjoys participating in outreach and service projects with her school’s biology and chemistry clubs as well as singing in multiple vocal ensembles on campus. She plans to apply the scholarship funds to her tuition costs, allowing her to dedicate more time to her research.
Abby Swett is the Senior Membership and Components Manager at AWIS. She graduated from Roger Williams University with a Bachelor of Science in economics. With over a decade of experience in member-based organizations and non-profits, she excels at building meaningful connections, problem-solving, and driving impactful programming. She believes in the power of collaboration, community engagement, and volunteer leaders.
This article was originally published in AWIS Magazine. Join AWIS to access the full issue of AWIS Magazine and more member benefits.