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2024 Leading Light Awards and Scholarship Gala - Silver Jubilee
On October 3rd, 2024, Women & Hi Tech hosted our signature biennial event, the Leading Light Awards (LLAs). This prestigious event recognizes women of achievement in STEM who have made great innovations in their industries, and have shown qualities of expertise, professionalism, leadership, service, courage, and tenacity as they built their careers. Women received awards for excellence as mentors, risk takers, and more. We awarded scholarships during this ceremony, as did our sponsors.
*Meet the 2024 Leading Light Award Winners and Scholarship Recipients
*Watch the 2024 Leading Light Award Video here
*View and download photos from the 2024 Leading Light Awards
*Find the full list of all our 2024 Award Nominees and Scholarship Applicants
*To view the full program from the 2024 Leading LIght Awards click here
The theme of this year’s event was focused around Women & Hi Tech’s 25th Anniversary celebration! Our silver jubilee recognized our founders who planted a seed in Indianapolis a quarter of a century ago to elevate women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)!
Thank You To Our Leading Light Awards Emcee - Becky Fouard
Becky grew up on a small farm in Kansas, and through 4-H and FFA found her passion for people, agriculture and leadership. After graduating from Kansas State University in Agricultural Communications and journalism, with a minor in leadership, Becky stepped into an array of roles that eventually took her to Indianapolis, Indiana.
Her first role out of college was with the Kansas State Department of Agriculture and focused on branding and marketing local products in the state as well as globally. Becky then took a role with Elanco Animal Health in 2013 in marketing. Since then, Becky has held roles in global marketing, corporate communications, corporate social responsibility, Global Learning and Development, and today serves as the director of US Farm Animal Sales Enablement.
While Becky works at Elanco during the day, she also has two other key passions she puts effort towards. Becky acts as a professional coach and leadership consultant through her On The Rise Group , and co-owns a CrossFit gym with her husband in Indianapolis (M4G CrossFit).
At the heart of everything Becky does is the passion and drive to help others live an authentic, fulfilled and healthy life.
Women & Hi Tech exists to change the landscape of women represented in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) and related Hi Tech fields to be equally inclusive to all. In support of this mission, Women and Hi Tech awarded over $60,000 in scholarships and grants to women in STEM in Indiana at the 2024 Leading Light Awards and Scholarship Gala (LLA).
Scholarships
Women and Hi Tech Undergraduate Scholarship ($5,000) - Awarded to an aspiring woman pursuing an undergraduate degree in STEM in Indiana, who intends to remain in the state after graduating to put her education to work in our community.
Women and Hi Tech Graduate Scholarship ($5,000) - Presented to a woman pursuing a graduate or professional degree in a STEM field in Indiana, who plans to stay in the state after graduation.
Women & Hi Tech High School Senior Scholarship ($5,000) - Awarded to a young woman who has just finished high school and is entering her first year of college in a STEM field in Indiana, and plans to stay in the state after graduation.
Women & Hi Tech Rare Nickel Scholarship ($5,000) - This scholarship recognizes and honors the recipients of the first Leading Light Awards winners in 2000 - Laura Larimer, Carol Curran, Dr. Catherine Olmer, Dr. Erica Villareal and Amy Conrad Werner. Their boldness, brilliance, innovations and advancements in STEM have established a unique legacy of STEM leadership over the past two decades.
The Barnes & Thornburg Scholarship ($3,000) - Presented to an outstanding female law student studying corporate or patent law in Indiana – with patent law being the only legal practice that requires a STEM background.
The Bell Techlogix Scholarship ($2,500)- Awarded to a young woman attending an Indiana college or university for her first year of study in a STEM field.
The Girl Scouts of Central Indiana Scholarship ($3,000) - Awarded to an Indiana Girl Scout pursuing study in a STEM field.
The RB Consulting & Vita Nova Consulting Undergraduate STEM Scholarship ($2,500) - Awarded to an aspiring woman pursuing an undergraduate degree in STEM in Indiana, who intends to remain in the state after graduating to put her education to work in our community.
The Central Indiana ISACA Scholarship ($2,500) - Awarded to a female undergraduate student pursuing a cybersecurity or information technology audit related degree.
The Ivy Tech Community College Scholarship ($2,500) - Awarded to a student pursuing a degree in science, technology, engineering, or math at Ivy Tech Community College.
The Professional Management Enterprises Scholarships (2, $1,000 each) - Awarded to two young women who have recently finished high school and are entering their first year of STEM study at an Indiana college or university. PME is a professional services and personnel staffing company that supports organizations with continuous process improvement, project management, behavioral science insights and applications, innovation and implementation support, and management consultation.
The Sallie Mae Scholarship ($3,000) - Awarded to a female student pursuing a STEM degree.
The SIM Indy Leading the Future Scholarships (2, $2,500 each) - These scholarships will be presented to female STEM students in Indiana studying in a field related to information technology, computing or MIS. These students - one an undergraduate and one a graduate student - have demonstrated academic success, school or community leadership, and will lead and influence future STEM students and professionals.
The Jo Basey Spirit Scholarship ($3,000) - Honoring Jo Basey, who demonstrates passion for service to the academic and business information technology communities. These traits will be personified by this scholarship recipient, who demonstrates excellence in academic scholarship, leadership, and management of business information technologies through her studies, experiences, and intended career path.This scholarship will be awarded to the overall top junior or senior undergraduate or graduate female STEM student studying in a field related to information technology, computing, or management information systems.
The #InThisTogether Scholarship (amount TBD) - A scholarship that is fully funded by donations from Women & Hi Tech members and individuals in our Indiana STEM community. It gives an opportunity for each of us to invest together in supporting future generations of women in STEM in Indiana.
Women and Hi Tech Professional Development Grant ($5,000)- Awarded to a woman or women pursuing professional development in science, technology, engineering, or math and who intends to remain in Indiana.
Techpoint Professional Development Grant ($5,000)- Awarded to a woman or women based in Indiana who actively pursue the development of career skills in STEM, with the goal of enhancing their job and career advancement opportunities.
The CareerCircle Professional Development Grant ($500) - Awarded to a woman interested in pursuing professional development through one of CareerCircle's Google Professional Certificate courses. View courses and career paths here.
Awards Categories - Nominations are Now Closed
- Equity and Inclusion Champion Award
This category honors women that have demonstrated a long-term commitment to mentor, recognize, champion, and promote diverse female students or professionals in STEM.
- OperationALL™ Male Ally Award
Celebrating a male ally who actively supports and advocates for women in STEM and is recognized to have positively changed the career trajectory of women in STEM.
- Mentor Me! Award
Recognizing an exemplary female leader for their role in fostering intellectual, creative, and professional growth for women in STEM in Indiana.
- Leadership Award
Honoring an exemplary female leader who has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills by increasing the impact, representation, and effectiveness of women in STEM throughout our community.
- Risk Taker Award
Celebrating a woman who has demonstrated courage in promoting change for which success was not guaranteed within the STEM-related fields in face of personal or professional sacrifice.
- Rising Star Award
Shining the light on an individual who has demonstrated exceptional and substantive achievements early in their professional STEM career and who shows promise for future contributions to the field.
- You Inspire Us! Award
This category highlights a woman who has demonstrated success in inspiring others in STEM to look beyond their own horizons and set professional and personal goals that exceed those originally conceived.
- Outstanding Educator in STEM Award
Celebrating a woman who has made a significant impact on the lives of their students and in building students’ interest, success, and leadership in STEM.
- Outstanding Achievement in STEM Award
Honoring a woman who has positively provided significant value or innovation in a STEM field through their noteworthy contributions within their industry.
- Change the Landscape Award
Celebrating a female who has made a significant impact to positively change the landscape of women represented in STEM