Seattle, Washington (PRWEB) April 21, 2016
PayScale, Inc. today announces the inaugural recipients of their Women in STEM Scholarship.
After reviewing more than 7,000 applications, PayScale has awarded a $2,000 scholarship to two exceptional young women to help them pursue their STEM (science, technology, engineering or math) education and follow their dreams.
“PayScale's educational outcomes data has shown time and time again that a STEM education offers a consistently high return on investment and sets students up for lifelong career success. However, there are fewer women entering and staying in STEM jobs, even though there is more attention on the subject than ever before. Because of this, we were inspired to create a scholarship that is exclusively for women heading into STEM fields who plan to pursue a meaningful career in a STEM-related field,” says Aubrey Bach, Head of Alumni Analytics at PayScale.
Here is a brief bio of each winner:
Mariam Verich, 18, Houston, Texas
Mariam Verich’s application rose to the top of the high school student category because of her incredible drive to impact the world using a degree in Biomedical Engineering. Verich, who was the only woman on her school's state-champion robotics team, will be the first person in her family to attend college. She aspires to a professional career conducting research and finding cures for diseases like rare cancers. Verich is motivated by her community and the drive to give back.
Says Verich: “I’m hell-bent on destroying the notion that women can’t be successful in the STEM field, and I have to prove a point to all the people who doubted me solely based on the fact that I am a woman.”
Han Ngo, 20, Los Angeles, California
Ngo is currently a student at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she is pursuing a degree in biochemistry. In high school, Ngo excelled in STEM classes like AP chemistry and discovered that she was genuinely interested in the subject. Now Ngo wants to use her knowledge to carry out research that will better the lives of those around her, specifically those who suffer from forms of diabetes. After earning her Bachelor of Science at UCLA, she plans to go on to graduate school to prepare for a career in research.
Says Ngo: “To my women out there who are interested in STEM fields but are held back by the negative stereotypes, be brave and do what you love. Don’t let other people steer you or pressure you into doing something you don’t like. Believe in your own ability, and consistently remind yourself that you can do it. Finally, remember that there are many support groups and services out there like PayScale that are designed to help STEM women like us. You’re never alone! We’re all in this together!”
Adds Bach: “Han and Mariam are 110 percent correct and they represent the future for how women will participate and lead in the STEM fields. We need more women going into STEM. We need more diversity. And we needed it yesterday. Less than 25 percent of STEM jobs are held by women. But we can rest easier knowing that there are young women like Mariam and Han who are paving the way for other women to enter these subjects and making women in STEM a reality.”
About PayScale
Cloud software, crowd sourced data and unique algorithms power the world’s largest real-time database of rich salary profiles giving PayScale the unique ability to provide employees and employers alike immediate visibility into the right pay for any position. PayScale’s cloud compensation software is used by more than 3,500 customers including Bloomberg BNA, Cummins, Warby Parker, Clemson University and Signature HealthCARE.
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