Four Weinberg College students win STEM scholarships: Weinberg College

Four Weinberg College students win STEM scholarships

The four are among six awarded by The Alumnae of Northwestern University

Four Weinberg College juniors have been selected by The Alumnae of Northwestern University to receive 2019-2020 Alumnae of Northwestern University STEM scholarships.

The four are among six at Northwestern to receive this year’s awards, which are given to students who excel in a STEM major — science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“Our members are proud to support these talented and hard-working students pursuing STEM careers in diverse fields, allowing them to continue their studies, do research, and actively participate in campus life,” said Jane Dampts, the 2019-2020 chair of The Alumnae’s STEM Fellowship Committee.

The goal of the scholarship program, which began in 2010, is to free students from work commitments so that they can more vigorously pursue their chosen area of study and other university endeavors. Students are selected on the basis of academic excellence and financial need.

The four Weinberg College recipients include:

Emerson Carlson ’21, from Monroe, Conn., is studying economics and math. As a high school senior, he received the Prudential Spirit of Community Certificate of Excellence and the President’s Volunteer Award. Currently, he is a member of a team that is a top-six finalist for the Goldman Sachs U Chicago/Northwestern Stock Pitch Competition. Emerson has made the Dean’s List every quarter at Northwestern and is strongly committed to learning by immersing himself in the world of finance, collaboration, and studying with classmates.
Braden Cronin ’21, from Naperville, Ill., is studying global health and neuroscience. She began Northwestern on a Posner Fellowship and was accepted to present at a biomedical conference for minority students. Cronin has also received the Weinberg Travel Grant, the Central Florida Marine Corps Scholarship and the Greer Scholarship. Her goal is to go into international health, specifically global healthcare. She is committed to understanding both the historical aspect of public health as well as the science behind the medicine. She is active with MakerGirl to combat stereotypes against women and minorities.
Mary Okematti ’21, from Rogers, Minn., is studying cognitive science. Okematti began at Northwestern on the Karr Academic Achievement Scholarship, the J.G. Nolan Scholarship, the NU Alumni Twin Cities Scholarship and the Todd Warren Fund for Undergraduate Students. She aspires to be a doctor who serves disempowered communities and to help people take ownership over their health. She seeks to understand how peoples’ thoughts affect their decision-making.
Lucy Weidner ’21, from Staunton, Va., is studying environmental science and English. In high school, she received the Harry F. Byrd Leadership Award and the Marine Academic Excellence Award and was a three-time state debate champion. She was on the Dean’s List for all of 2018 and is on the Northwestern Mock Trial team, which was ranked ninth in the nation. Weidner aspires to do research on the intersection of human health and the environment. She is committed to helping people understand the issues of climate change and mass extinction, and to develop solutions for those issues.

The other Northwestern recipients include:

Nolan Robinson ’21, from Evanston, Ill., is a student in the School of Communications studying theatre and computer science. He was named a Robert M. Cumnock Scholar in his first year at Northwestern. In addition, he was on the Dean’s List, was a keynote speaker for the Evanston Martin Luther King Day celebration in 2018, won the North Shore Branch NAACP 2017 Community Service Award, and serves on the Dean of Communication’s Advisory Council. Nolan defines himself as an artist and a scientist and aspires to join the two fields to discover what both artistic and scientific creation can bring to the world.
Victor Aung ’21, a McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences student from Center Valley, Penn., is studying computer science. Aung is committed to integrating the arts and humanities with his engineering work, focusing on user-centric design to make applications easier to use and more accessible. He credits his drive for success to his Burmese immigrant parents, who ensured that he could grow up with an excellent education.

The Alumnae of Northwestern University is an all-volunteer organization of women that raises funds for a wide range of projects to benefit the University while sharing the University’s academic resources with the community through its Continuing Education program, which celebrated its 50^th anniversary last year. Founded in 1916, The Alumnae has given more than $8.5 million to the University in the form of grants, fellowships, scholarships, endowed professorships, funding for university projects and summer internships. For more information, visit The Alumnae.