2026 Leading Light Award Nominees

Mentor Me! Award

• Molly Harrison, LibertyWorks Chief Engineer Research & Technology, Rolls-Royce North America

• Alicia McKoy, CEO, Peak Mind & Peak Design

• Danielle Nickerson, Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability Manager, Toyota Material Handling North America

• Laura Potter, Molecular Platforms Leader, Corteva Agriscience

Change the Landscape Award

• Kristen Cooper, Founder & CEO, The Startup Ladies

• Dr. Keeanna Warren, Chief Executive Officer, Purdue Polytechnic High Schools

Leadership Award

• Mercy Anawe, Doctoral Candidate, Purdue University

• Teresa Conroy-Roth, Director, Huron

• Amy Doner, Advisor II, Membership Services, MISO

• Jennifer Hamilton, Biotechnology Capability Leader - GCOE Pipeline, Signal, and Deployment, Corteva Agriscience

• Kara Harris, Professor, Bayh College of Education / Affiliate Professor Bailey College of Engineering and Technology / NCAA Faculty Athletic Representative, Indiana State University

• Alicia McKoy, CEO, Peak Mind & Peak Design

OperationAll Male Allies Award

• Chris Molnar, Chief Engineer, Rolls-Royce Corporation

• Reza Rasoulpour, Vice President (VP) of Global Regulatory and Stewardship, Corteva Agriscience

Outstanding Achievement in STEM Award

• Maenecia Lewis Cole, Director, Experiential Learning, 16 Tech

• Teresa Conroy-Roth, Director, Huron

• Jennifer Hamilton, Biotechnology Capability Leader - GCOE Pipeline, Signal, and Deployment, Corteva Agriscience

Outstanding Educator in STEM Award

• Melissa Anslinger, Coord, Outreach • Land, Legal & RIght of Way PP, CountryMark Cooperative

• Allison Babij, Department Chair for Life and Physical Science, Ivy Tech Community College

• Dr. Crystal Morton, Founder and Executive Director, Girls STEM Institute

• Pam Schmelz, Professor/Dean, Ivy Tech Community College

• Amanda Wilkerson, Assistant Faculty Lead, Ivy Tech Community College

Rising Star Award

• Mercy Anawe, Doctoral Candidate, Purdue University

• Marcie Stuber Geesey, New Product Introduction Performance & Aerothermal Engineer, Rolls Royce Corporation

• Erin Hancock, Research Investigator, Corteva Agriscience

• Haruka Yoshimura, Information Security Analyst, Sallie Mae

Risk Taker Award

• Alicia McKoy, CEO, Peak Mind & Peak Design

• Rosana Serikawa, Discovery & Development Biology Research Leader, Corteva Agriscience

You Inspire Us! Award

• Mercy Anawe, Doctoral Candidate, Purdue University

• Annette Brown, Pipeline Supply Program Leader, Corteva Agriscience

• Ami Graves, Chief Human Resources Officer, Bell Techlogix

• Diane Hageman, Defence Mature Programs Mechanical Integrity Specialist, Rolls-Royce Corporation

• Jamie Inskeep, Chief Executive Officer, TechPoint Foundation for Youth

• Brenny Kummer, Assistant Director of Educational Technology, Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation

• Alicia McKoy, CEO, Peak Mind & Peak Design

• Marta Piñeiro-Núñez, Associate VP – Talent Development Academy, Eli Lilly & Company

2026 Scholarship Applicants

High School Senior Scholarship Applicants

Araoluwa Adegoke, Nursing, Indiana University Indianapolis
Olivia Butler, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Butler University
Addison Carey, Mathematical Education, Ball State University
Maria DeLong, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Purdue University
Sara Dustova, Computer Science, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Vivian Goodnight, Forensic Biology and Psychology, Ball State University
Olivia Harlow, Interior Architecture, Purdue University Indianapolis
Brooklynn Hudnut, Professional Flight & Aviation Management, Indiana State University
Melanie Kashon, Health Sciences (Pre-Optometry), Grace College
Aurora Kennedy, Mechanical Engineering, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Sage Knott, Integrated Business and Engineering, Purdue University
Rishita Maheshwaram, Computer Science. Purdue University
Gentry McDuffee, Computer Science, Indiana University
Delaney Miller, Accounting, Taylor University
Ella Miller, Nursing, Indiana Wesleyan University
Kailah Pickens, Architecture, Ball State University
Brenna Stafford, Actuarial Science/Finance, Trine University
Lilian Tryon, Chemical Engineering, Purdue University

Undergraduate Scholarship Applicants

Susanna Akinwole, Biology, DePauw University
Madison Akridge, Aviation Management, Purdue University
Fatimah Al Rikabi, Neuroscience, Indiana University Indianapolis
Jayla Ashley, Engineering, Hanover College
Cyniah Bennett, Pre-Dentistry and Biology, Ball State University
Sophia Boner, Civil Engineering, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Wren Brown, Biology, Franklin College
Erica Buening, Exercise Science, Franklin College
Layla Caviness, Conservation and Environmental Science, Franklin College
DeAnne Clifton, Information Technology, Western Governors University
Alexis DeBard, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Purdue University Kokomo
Zawadi Esube, Computer Science, Indiana University Indianapolis
Adedoyin Famuyiwa, Mathematics, Computer Science, Purdue University
Merola Farah, Neuroscience, Indiana University Indianapolis
Zaire Funches, Computer Information Technology, Purdue University Indianapolis
Whitney Fung, Motorsports Engineering, Purdue University Indianapolis
Queen Hill, Information Technology, Western Governors University
Allie Hopkins, Professional Flight Technology / Aviation Management, Purdue University
Happiness Irakoze, Software Engineering, Franklin College
Albine Ishimwe, Mechanical Engineering, University of Indianapolis
Saadaya Karmo, Environmental Science, Indiana University Indianapolis
Jasmeen Kaur, Software Engineering, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Maninder Kaur, Computer Science, Purdue University
Abigail Keeney, Biomedical Science, Franklin College
Hannah Kenworthy, Engineering, Purdue Polytechnic New Albany
Courtney Leap, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Franklin College
Suhani Maini, Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University Indianapolis
Isha Mannan, Biology, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Alvina Mastakar, Neuroscience, Indiana University Indianapolis
Jenny Mawi, Computer Science, Indiana University
Jenna May, Forensic Chemistry and Chemistry, Indiana University Indianapolis
Danica McLinn, Actuarial Science, Purdue University
Sreepadaarchana Munjuluri, Neuroscience, Indiana University Indianapolis
Sahanaa Nishkaran, Interdisciplinary Studies, Indiana University Indianapolis
Sophia Orr, Microbiology, Indiana University Indianapolis
Inioluwa Oyatobo, Informatics(Cybersecurity), Indiana University Indianapolis
Emma Parsons, Public Health, Purdue University
Ashley Rice, Data Science, Hanover College
Addison Roution, Biology, University of Indianapolis
Sarah Sayara, Biology, Chemistry, Indiana University Indianapolis
Reagan Shaw, Biology, University of Indianapolis
Hope Siktberg, Biology, Indiana Wesleyan University
Sophie Tompkins, Environmental Science and Sustainability, Indiana University
Syntiche Tshimanga, Computer Science, University of Indianapolis
Caroline Venditti, Mechanical Engineering, Taylor University
Rebekah Walsh, Actuarial Science, Franklin College
Kayla Werline, Robotics Engineering Technology, Purdue Polytechnic Anderson
Camille Zoe, Psychology, Butler University

Graduate Scholarship Applicants

Mercy Anawe, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biological Science/Master of Science in Public Health, Purdue University
Mary Anderson-Clark, Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance, Western Governors University
Si’Diamond Bolden, Master of Science in Public Health, Indiana University Indianapolis
Christine Chen, Master of Science in Computer Science, Purdue University
Lamis Dugla, Master of Science in Cybersecurity & Trusted Systems, Purdue University Indianapolis
Teagan Le, Master of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence, Purdue Northwest
Yuanfang Liu, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Applied and Creative Computing, Purdue University
Heidi Novak, Master of Science in Data Science, Purdue University
Dina Nukenova, Master of Science in Engineering Technology, Purdue University
Ayobami Oladapo, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (Hydrogeology), Purdue University
Trang Pham, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Industrial Engineering, Purdue University
Ariel A. Relf, Master of Science in Information Technology, Indiana University
Diya Singh, Master of Science in Computer Science, Indiana University Indianapolis
Jayda Yancey, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Organic Chemistry, Indiana University

Professional Development Grant Applicants

Madison Akridge, Dispatcher, Purdue University Airport
Alexis DeBard, Undergraduate Student, Purdue University
Kelsey Eberle, Product Marketing Manager, iA
Jasmeen Kaur, Undergraduate Student, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Maninder Kaur, Undergraduate Student, Purdue University
Rabpreet Kaur, IT Intern, Prometheus Consulting
Abigail Keeney, Undergraduate Student, Franklin College
Teagan Le, Graduate Student, Purdue University Northwest
Yuanfang Liu, Doctoral Student, Purdue University
Isha Mannan, Undergraduate Student, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Heidi Novak, Senior Data Analyst, Nightingale College
Mikayla Rebeles, Undergraduate Student, Purdue Polytechnic Lafayette
Diya Singh, Graduate Student, Indiana University
Joana Santamaria Vilchis, Research Intern, IU Indianapolis School of Medicine