2019 Scholar's Day in Washington D.C.

I'd like to thank NSHSS again for their generous support of my education and for giving me the opportunities to become more open to global occurrences. The once-in-a-lifetime experiences I enjoyed as an NSHSS scholar were important in my growth, and to this day they remain one of the best memories I have. I hope to give back to and stay involved with the wonderful NSHSS community after I graduate.

As the first in my family to graduate from college, I graduated from the University of Houston, cum laude, in Management Information Systems with zero debt thanks to the help and support of several organizations and people, including NSHSS! I can't begin to explain how impactful it was to receive the Tesoro Youth Leadership award in 2014 and travel to D.C. It empowered me to persevere through college and excel in and out the classroom.

It’s been a year and a half since I’ve become an NSHSS member, and I’ve found an incredible community of support and resources. NSHSS has always been there to answer my questions, support all of my endeavors, and they've even allowed me to host a session at one of their events. I truly believe NSHSS is an organization like no other.

Being a member of NSHSS has been amazing. I had the privilege to attend the HKU STEM seminar in Hong Kong through NSHSS and without a doubt, I can say it was one of the best weeks of my life. In addition to guest speakers, such as the industry manager of Google and the CEO of 9gag, we participated in panels about the development of technology and using STEM in everyday life. The program attendees consisted of roughly one hundred high school students from all across the globe. I met so many great people and bonded over shared jokes and seemingly impossible tasks. At the end of the camp, despite our idea of covering a building with solar panels, my group managed to win best presentation. It was such an incredible experience and I’m glad that I was able to be a part of it through NSHSS.

During my experience at Nobel Week in Stockholm, I was surrounded by so many genius minds! NSHSS has been an excellent support network. It has given me incredible opportunities for my education and for my own personal growth. I would not have had the same experiences and come out the same person had I not been part of NSHSS. I felt the world that was always in my mind was enlarged and I am so motivated to work harder and accept the challenge to make meaningful contributions and be rewarded for excellence. Thank you!