What technological developments can reduce healthcare disparity? How can implementing an irrigation system at a ranch improve mental health? Can a background in Hellenism help guide society's use of Artificial Intelligence? These are just a few questions posed and researched by the 2023 FAITH-STEM Scholars who took to their classrooms, research labs, internships and fellowships to launch investigations into their community's leading issues.
This year marks our eleventh celebrating the Hellenic community's brightest young minds in STEM and we are pleased to announce we have awarded 72 FAITH-STEM continuation scholarships.
With an average GPA of 3.82, the 2023 FAITH-STEM Scholars are involved leaders: They run campus cohorts such as Biology Club, MEDLIFE or Engineers Without Borders, intern at top companies including Disney, Microsoft, Apple, join research projects ranging from analyzing parasitic infections in wildlife to monitoring security vulnerabilities in computer hardware and remain rooted in the Greek community whether through serving on Hellenic Student Association boards or making loukoumades to raise charitable funds.
What sets a FAITH-STEM Scholar apart is not just their academic achievements, but their dedication to advancing communities through transformative developments in STEM. FAITH-STEM Scholars are pre-med students volunteering in rehabilitation and dementia centers to better understand the communities they'll be serving; future software engineers leading coding camps at middle schools to inspire the next generation of programmers or aspiring engineers learning how to incorporate sustainable practices into their designs.
As society's need for innovative solutions grows, FAITH-STEM Scholars are rising to the challenge. We are thrilled to highlight below how these future leaders in STEM are ensuring a brighter future for us all!
Callie S. Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Along with majoring in Biochemistry, Callie, an aspiring physician, is minoring in Disability Rights and Services. As President of Best Buddies she advocates for the inclusion of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and works with Schools of Hope to tutor and mentor middle school students with special needs. She joined the Health Lupus Clinic where she works for a project aiming to minimize health disparities with patients with Lupus and researches affordable drug alternatives with the potential the close the access gap in patients who cannot afford medication.
Peter T. Biology, University of Toledo; Class of '25
As a research assistant in the pathology lab, Peter studied the molecular mechanisms of oral carcinogenesis as well as the use of black raspberry-mediated oral chemoprevention. He is co-president of the Biomedical Science Student Organization, tutors high school students, is active in Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) and chairs the executive board of Sigma, an organization serving over 100 Greek and Orthodox students. Peter is pursuing a MD-PhD with minors in Greek and Spanish.
Jenna M. Mechanical Engineering, Villanova University
Jenna worked in the Villanova Engineering Service Learning (VESL) program. She and her team designed a sustainable subsurface drip irrigation system to aid alfalfa growth on a ranch in Navajo Nation, Arizona. The ranch is run by farmers working with the nonprofit organization Horses for Heroes, which helps rehabilitate veterans and 9/11 survivors suffering from PTSD by teaching ranching practices. The irrigation system keeps the ranch running. The work VESL does with partners throughout the world inspired Jenna to use her skills in the classroom to give back to communities both locally and globally.
Adamantia M. Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University
At the end of her Bio-Entrepreneurship course, Adamantia and her team made a pitch to several VC investors about a Type 2 Diabetes iPhone app for early diabetes detection. Additionally, she was involved in the club Alzheimer’s Buddies where she volunteers at a local dementia center. Interacting with the residents has been a transformative experience for Adamantia, as it helped her better understand the disease and reaffirm her interest in pre-med. She will be interning with a team of doctors at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx to develop innovative health technologies that address health disparities in the community.