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 Services	Eli 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 Herron	Director, 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 Instructor	MSD 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 Sponsor	Triton 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 Director	Corteva 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 Manager	Rolls-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

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