• Home
  • 2018 LLA Nominees

2018 Leading Light Award Nominees 

Congratulations to the 2018 Leading Light Award and Scholarship Nominees.  We have a record number of nominees this year from a variety of prestigious and influential companies and universities.

Outstanding Achievement in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math

Nominees must have positively promoted or provided significant value or innovation in a STEM field. The winner will have made noteworthy contributions in areas that may include but are not limited to research & development, design, engineering, operational efficiency, process improvement, sustainability, logistics, legal, human resource management, marketing, information technology, or supply chain management.

Nominee Title Organization
Stacy DuVall R&D Project Leader Roche Diabetes Care, Inc.
Jesse Kinser Director of Product Security LifeOmic, Inc.
Carla Klittich Fellow Corteva Agriscience™ - Agriculture Division of DowDuPont™
Beth Lorsbach             Associate Director, Discovery Chemistry Leader Corteva Agriscience™ - Agriculture Division of DowDuPont™
Mary McCain Senior Vice President, Head of Global Supply Chain Roche Diagnostics
Elizabeth Rehfus     President Crafting Solutions, Inc.
Mary Rinehart Education Director 1st Maker Space, LLC
Lisa Teague Head of Research & Technology, Indianapolis Rolls-Royce

You Inspire Us!

Nominees must have demonstrated success in inspiring others in STEM to look beyond their own horizons and set professional and personal goals that exceed those originally conceived. Based on her advocacy, leadership, presence, and/or visibility in the community, she has advanced STEM in Indiana and inspires us all to push the limits.

Nominee Title Organization
Carlotta Berry Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Aisha Cargile Managing Partner McCord and Cargile Marketing Resources
Laura Dodds Executive Director TechPoint Foundation for Youth
Erica Frazier Stum Robotics Coach Paramount Schools of Excellence
Melissa Griffiths Technical Lead - JSF LiftSystem Service Engineering Rolls-Royce
Pippa Mann Race Car Driver Pippa Mann Racing LLC
Javeria Masood Digital Marketing Manager Finance of America Reverse
LaVerne Spears Manager, Electrical Components Allison Transmission
Audrey Taylor CEO netlogx
Lora Whitley IT Director - Workforce Productivity ServicesEli Lilly and Company

 

Leadership

This award will recognize a woman who has increased the impact, representation, and effectiveness of women in STEM through outstanding leadership, advocacy, and social contributions in her organization and/or the broader community. She has demonstrated the ability to motivate and energize, to build successful teams, to create an inspiring vision of the future and to deliver on promises.

Nominee Title Organization
Dr. Allison Barber Chancellor WGU Indiana
Sarah Burns Content Advisor Eli Lilly and Company
Kristen Cooper CEO & Founder The Startup Ladies
Juliann DeSutter Chief Operating Officer DeveloperTown
Brenda Lichtenberg Senior Vice President Strategy and Portfolio Bell Techlogix
Susan Marshall CEO Torchlite
Stacey McCreery President & Founder ROI Search Group
Diana Nolting Director of Product A New High Alpha Company
Meagan Rater SVP Sales, US Customer and Government Business Rolls-Royce
Melissa Seymour Regional Executive MidContinent Independent System Operator (MISO)
Brenda Stallings CEO Matrix Integration
Priscila Vansetti Director, Global Strategy and Business Development Corteva Agriscience™ - Agriculture Division of DowDuPont™
Colleen Walker Community Engagement Manager Six Feet Up

 

Mentor Me!  

This award is presented to a woman who has exhibited a commitment to the encouragement and advancement of women in STEM in Indiana by fostering intellectual, creative, and professional growth. She has demonstrated success in providing career, leadership and education opportunities for women, and has served as a positive role model for others.  

Nominee Title Organization 
Jan Allen Senior Global Manager of Requirements Engineering and Analysis Roche Diabetes Care, Inc.
Tobi HerronDirector, Community and Employee Involvement Faurecia Clean Mobility
Debra Luffer-Atlas Senior Research Fellow Eli Lilly and Company
Kelley Smith Seeds Portfolio Quality Partner Corteva Agriscience™ - Agriculture Division of DowDuPont™
Amanda Thompson CEO Explore Interactive
Susan Watkin Chief Audit Engineer Rolls-Royce

 

Outstanding Educator in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math

Nominees must have made a significant impact on the lives of their students, and have demonstrated excellence in teaching engaging programs that promote student interest, success, and leadership in STEM. Special consideration will be given to those who have implemented programs to teach these disciplines in a hands-on environment and to those who have demonstrated a commitment to young women in these areas. Nominees must be an educator at a K-12 school or an institution of higher learning in Indiana and must have a primary academic focus in STEM.

Nominee  Title  Organization 
Julie Alano Computer Science Teacher and Applied Sciences Department Chair Hamilton Southeastern School Corporation
Hope Foley Technical Solutions Professional Microsoft
Erica Frazier Stum Robotics Coach Paramount Schools of Excellence
Noelle King Science Curriculum Coordinator and Science Teacher St. Richard's Episcopal School
Virginia King Teacher Helfrich Park STEM Academy
Tamara Markey Pre-Engineering InstructorMSD Lawrence Township
Catherine McKay Teacher (Indiana Virtual School); Chair of Professional Education Studies (American College of Education) Indiana Virtual School
Cathrine Reck Clinical Professor, Director of Undergraduate Studies Indiana University Bloomington, Department of Chemistry
Sara Roberts Classroom Instructor/Robotics Team SponsorTriton Central Middle School
Renee Rogge Professor of Biomedical Engineering Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Sue Ellen Sopher Project Lead the Way Teacher Maconaquah Middle School

 

Risk Taker

Nominees must have demonstrated courage in promoting purposeful change for which success was not guaranteed. The winner will have pursued innovation focused on STEM-related products, services or ideas in the face of personal or professional sacrifice.

Nominee  Title  Organization 
Kristen Cooper CEO & Founder The Startup Ladies
Jenn Lisak Golding CEO Sapphire Strategy
Heidi Melton Owner/Founder ONBB LLC
Lisa Mitchell Co-Founder & COO Selfless.ly
Lakshmi Sastry-Dent Associate R & D DirectorCorteva Agriscience™ - Agriculture Division of DowDuPont™
Amanda Thompson CEO Explore Interactive

 

Rising Star 

This award will honor an individual who has demonstrated exceptional and substantive achievements early in her professional STEM career, and who shows promise for future contributions.

Nominee  Title  Organization 
Sara Abruzzo Component Design Engineer Rolls-Royce
Aneatria Bailey Defense Services Capability ManagerRolls-Royce
Debby Basu Manager, Center for Global Health American Society for Clinical Pathology
Brooke Brown Software Engineer hc1.com
Vimbai Chikwana Associate Research Scientist Corteva Agriscience™ - Agriculture Division of DowDuPont™
Rebekah Dickerson Industrial Hygiene Research Chemist Heritage Research Group
Avery Dillon IT Vendor Relations Manager Cook Medical
Tracey Everett Director, Talent Programs Conexus Indiana
Kate Gundlach Assistant Race Engineer Chip Ganassi Racing
Jessica LaRocca Associate Research Toxicologist Corteva Agriscience™ - Agriculture Division of DowDuPont™
Elyse McMillen Fluids and Surface Engineer Rolls-Royce
Heidi Melton Owner ONBB LLC
Carly Osinski Orr Fellow - Marketing Allegion
Lauren Petersen Senior Director of Relationship Management TechPoint
Joanna Shannon Director of Sales Centurylink
Ariane Spidel Senior Manager of Global R&D Process Management Roche Diabetes Care
Ellie Symes CEO The Bee Corp
Iyunna Walker Technical Program Manager Rolls-Royce
Kendrea Williams Chapter President The Next IT Girl


Scholarship Nominees 

With thanks to our outstanding sponsors, Women & Hi Tech is honored to provide two $5,000 scholarships this year.  (Additional scholarships may also be awarded by our sponsors).  The scholarships will be awarded to women living in Indiana with the intent to remain in the state after graduating to put their education to work in our community. The Women & Hi Tech Scholarships are open to women pursuing a degree in science, technology, engineering or math.

Nominee Studying School
Bridget Bedel BS in Informatics Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Melissa Beer BA in Applied Mathematics and Quantitative Analysis Franklin College
Lauren Bryant MD in Medical Doctorate Indiana University School of Medicine, University of Indianapolis
Kathryn Farmer MS in Library and Information Science Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Valeria Gaeta BS in Health Information Management Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Rose Girls BS in Engineering Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Amy Hayes BS in Informatics Indiana University
Bailey Hayes BS in Chemical Engineering Purdue University
Molly Joseph MS in Electronics and Computer Technology focus in Robotics and Automation Indiana State University
Noami Khenglawt MS in Human-Computer Interaction Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Stephanie Luangraj BS and a certificate in Computer & Information Technology w/concentration in Information Security/Certificate in Software Development Purdue School of Engineering & Technology IUPUI
Hasika Mahtta MS in Computer Science Indiana University
Rebecca Marsh MS Education in Instructional Systems Technology Indiana University
Fnu Neha MS in Human Computer Interaction Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Shelby Noble BS in Mathematics Teaching University of Indianapolis
Monica Olson PhD in Agronomy Purdue University
Rachel Palfi BS in Health Information Management with a Business Foundations Certificate Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Mallory Pate BS in Health Information Management Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Sheetal Prasanna BS in Biomedical Engineering Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Sarah Michelle Rice MS in Human-Computer Interaction Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Hannah Roper MS in Human-Computer Interaction Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Karyce Shumpert BS in Informatics Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Himabindu Srinivas MS in Applied Data Science Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Jade Stone BS in Psychology Indiana University
I Ting Tseng MS in Human Computer Interaction Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Cassie Utley BS in Mechanical Engineering Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Siddhi Waman MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)


Professional Development Scholarship Nominees 

In addition to traditional higher education, Women & Hi Tech recognizes the importance of supporting women who strive to pursue alternative forms of higher education and certifications within their specific industries and fields. To support this professional development, with thanks to our outstanding sponsors, we are honored to provide two $2,000 Professional Development scholarships this year. The scholarships will be awarded to women pursuing professional development in science, technology, engineering or math and who intend to remain in Indiana after completing their education. This category is broadly defined, and consideration will be given to 2-year degrees, coding academy tuition, certifications and other industry-/field-specific professional development.

Nominee Studying 
Jessica Brandt Coding Academy Tuition
Lovepreet Brar Coding Academy Tuition
Merideth Bush Coding Academy Tuition
Aisha Cargile Project Management Professional (PMP)
Angie Creed Coding Academy Tuition
Gayle Davis Coding Academy Tuition
Ashley Herring Business Agility Foundations (ICP-BAF)
Holly Jones LMS Professional Development
Carrie Kelly STEM Certified Teacher
Noelle King Lego Serious Play - Methods Certification for Teams and Groups
Jennifer Purcell Blackboard Trainer Certification
Kailee Queener Project Management Professional (PMP)
Danielle Reed Coding Academy Tuition
Virginia Sanders Adobe InDesign Training and Adobe ACE Certification
Lillian Singh Coding Academy Tuition
Candace Studebaker Online Coding Academy Tuition
Siddhi Waman MS- ECE, CISCO CMNO, Certification in Python, CISCO CCNP (R-S)
Kelley Wells Masters, Health Informatics
Mya Williams Coding Academy Tuition

All content Copyright Women & Hi Tech, BigStockPhoto, or Trusty Applications
Women & Hi Tech is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, and all donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Federal ID Number: 35-2113596. 
Women & Hi Tech, 133 West Market Street, #220, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Contact | Personal Data Usage Policy | Site Map