CLEVELAND, Ohio – A dozen students from across greater Cleveland have won prestigious scholarships from the American Heart Association.
The scholarships are to encourage young women into STEM careers – studying in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.
All the winning students have been given a $5,000 grant towards their post-secondary school degrees as part of the Lorraine Dodero STEM Goes Red for Girls Scholarship program.
“Inspiring and equipping the next generation of STEM leaders is a core part of our mission, and we’re proud to support these remarkable young women on their educational journeys,” said Shelley Webber, executive director of the American Heart Association, Greater Cleveland.
“The Lorraine Dodero STEM Goes Red for Girls Scholarship program not only strengthens their futures but also helps drive progress in science, technology, engineering and math — fields that are critical to shaping our world.”
The grant program was started in 2019 with the aim of bridging the gap between the interest of female students following a career in STEM fields and achieving that goal and is a collaboration between the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement and Lorraine Dodero of The Sam J Frankino Foundation.
A statement from the American Heart Association said: “Today’s economy and tomorrow’s well-being depend on innovations STEM, but a troubling gap exists when it comes to women in STEM occupations.”
“The number of women entering STEM careers is increasing, but the retention of women in STEM sees a significant drop even one year after graduation. Women account for only around 29 percent of entry-level STEM workers, and that number drops even further to around 18 percent for vice president roles and 12 percent for C-suite.”
And this year the number of scholarships was doubled from six to 12. Webber said: “The decision to increase the number of scholarships was born from a dedication to creating pathways for success and breaking down barriers in traditionally underrepresented areas of study.”
The winning students – selected from hundreds of applicants who had to submit a 500 word essay on why they wanted a career in STEM fields – are: Elizabeth Calvis of Berea-Midpark High School, Omayris Delmar Montes of John Marshall School of Engineering, Helena Duffy of Cleveland Heights High School, Amy Ingraham of Bay High School, Karina Krishnan of Beachwood High School, Audrey Malcuit of Pauda Franciscan High School, Angela Mills-Gilson of East Technical High School, Julia Morgan of Gilmour Academy, Samantha Stutler of Gilmour Academy, Kaylee Synk of Saint Joseph Academy, Kayley Thompson of Avon High School and India Makayla Woodson of Bedford High School.
The students were also assessed against their school transcripts and academic performance and needed two letters of recommendation. The American Heart Association is now taking nominations for next year’s grants and details can be found at www.heart.org/clestemgoesred.
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