UCLA biochemistry undergraduate student Han Ngo is one of two women to receive PayScale’s Women in STEM Scholarship.
Out of over 7,000 applicants the compensation software company has awarded two young women a $2,000 scholarship to help them pursue their science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and “follow their dreams”.
Excerpts from the PayScale website :
“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.
Han Ngo, 20, Los Angeles, Calif.
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.”
