Community News C
PROMOTING STEAM AMONG GIRLS Funding efforts to enchance STEM participation through a state grant
R ochester Olmsted Youth Council member Isha Kapoor been selected as an Innovator for the 2023-2024 Cohort for the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota (WFMN) Innovator Program. This selection includes receiving a $2,500 grant, as well as online and in-person gatherings for leadership development, advocacy, and building community. Kapoor will focus her grant funding efforts to enhance STEM participation among girls, particularly those belonging to historically underrepresented students within the Rochester Public Schools (RPS) system. Mayor Kim Norton shares, “We continue to be impressed with the youth we have in our community. Ms. Kapoor is a great example of the drive and commitment that exists in taking a hands-on approach to bettering our city. I look forward to seeing how this project progresses!” Kapoor is a junior at Mayo High School and serves as the co-chair of the Equity Team at her school. She is enthusiastic about medical research and has been working under the guidance of a Mayo Clinic physician researcher, Dr. Wilson Gonsalves, for the past two years. Kapoor has presented her work at regional, national, and international meetings and has received several awards. Based on her research efforts, she was invited to serve as an officer for the Minnesota Junior Academy of Science in 2022. As a young female leader in STEM and a child of immigrant parents, Kapoor feels strongly about promoting a passion for STEM and leadership among young girls, particularly those from minority communities. She believes it is important to start working on these skills early in the academic journeys of students. “As one of the Olmsted County commissioner representatives on the Rochester Olmsted Youth Council, I want to say how proud I am of Isha and excited she’s been selected for this award,” said
Olmsted County Commissioner Mark Thein. “Isha is a fine example of a young adult who is making a positive difference in Olmsted County. When I think about the future, I am optimistic knowing we have young adults like Isha committed to making their communities a better place.” “I feel extremely honored and thankful to be a recipient of the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota (WFMN) Innovator Grant for the 2023-2024 cycle. The resources and funding from this grant will be utilized to promote engagement in STEM and leadership opportunities among young girls of color in my community. I will specifically be working with students in middle school and in the first year of high school. For me personally, the grant will provide an amazing opportunity to receive direct coaching and mentorship from experts in the organization and refine my leadership skills. I am also excited about the prospect of networking with and learning from other ’innovators’ supported by the WFMN.”
Advantage Magazine | 29
May 2023
Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software