Women & Hi Tech Celebrates 25th Anniversary, Announces 2024 Leading Light Award & Scholarship Recipients

Women & Hi Tech celebrated its 25th anniversary by recognizing over 175 incredible scholarship and award nominees on Oct. 3, 2024, at the Leading Light Awards & Scholarship Gala. Over 600 attendees gathered at the Indiana Roof Ballroom to celebrate these diverse women of excellence and male allies in Indiana’s STEM community.

During the program, emceed by Becky Fouard, Director of US Farm Animal Sales Enablement for Elanco, Women & Hi Tech announced over $60,000 in scholarships and grants to diverse women and girls at all stages of their science, technology, engineering and math careers and recognized 10 Leading Light Award recipients.

“To drive meaningful change and shape the future of Indiana’s STEM landscape, we must unite innovators, educators, and industry leaders with a shared vision,” said Women & Hi Tech President Tiffany Trusty. “Women & Hi Tech is dedicated to fostering a community where young girls are empowered to explore STEM careers through mentorship, hands-on experience, and role models who showcase the endless opportunities available to them.”

Women & Hi Tech is especially honored to share the announcement of the 2024 award and scholarship recipients. Below are the categories and winners.

Leading Light Award Winners 

Change the Landscape Award Winner

• Linda Calvin, Chief Impact Officer, Reboot Representation.

Outstanding Achievement in STEM Award Winner

• Poonam Gill, Operations Support Instructional Designer, MISO.

Outstanding Educator in STEM Award Winner

• Joanna Millunchick, Dean, IU Luddy School of Informatics and College of Engineering.

You Inspire Us! Award Winner

• Anushree M Bag, AVP, Cybersecurity GRC, Eli Lilly.

Rising Star Award Winner

• Yamini Krishnan, Process Development Engineer, Corteva.

Risk Taker Award Winner

• Belgin Canturk, Research Scientist, Corteva.

Leadership Award Winner

• Rupal Thanawala, CEO/President, Trident Systems.

Mentor Me! Award Winner

• Tonya Wallace, Director, Solution Delivery | CEO Gideon VI, Cox Automotive.

OperationAll™ Male Ally Award Winner

• Mike Hineline, Chief Executive Officer, Make Ripples LLC.

Equity and Inclusion Champion Award Winner

• Lauren Clark, Six Sigma Black Belt, Information Technology, Corteva.

Leading Light Award Scholarship Recipients 

Women & Hi Tech Graduate Scholarship Recipient

• Hannah Beaven, Doctor of Medicine (MD), Indiana University - Indianapolis.

Women & Hi Tech Undergraduate Scholarship Recipient

• Pushpita Saha, Computer Science, DePauw University.

Women & Hi Tech High School Senior Scholarship Recipient

• Arianna Magallanes, Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University.

Women & Hi Tech Rare Nickel Scholarship Recipient

• Mercy Orukpe Moses, Biological Sciences (Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Disease), Purdue University.

Women & Hi Tech Professional Development Grant Recipient

• Amber Clarke, Organizational Change Manager, Simplus.

#InThisTogether Scholarship Recipient

• Allie Hopkins, Professional Flight, Purdue University.

SIM Indy Graduate Scholarship Recipient

• Amulya Veldandi, MS in Health Informatics, Indiana University - Indianapolis.

SIM Indy Undergraduate Scholarship Recipient

• Payton Seay, Computer Science and Software Engineering, Franklin College.

Barnes & Thornburg LLP Corporate or Patent Law Scholarship Recipient

• Yirong Shen, JD & MS in Cybersecurity and Risk Management, Indiana University Maurer School of Law.

Girl Scouts of Central Indiana Scholarship Recipient

• Madison Akridge, Professional Flight Technology, Purdue University.

Jo Basey Spirit Scholarship Recipient 

• Mikaili Commissiong, Information Systems, Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship & Corporate Innovation, Indiana University - Bloomington.

Sallie Mae Scholarship Recipient

• Camille Zoe, Psychology, Butler University.

Central Indiana ISACA Scholarship Recipient

• Cassandra Eich, Cybersecurity, Purdue University.

TechPoint Professional Development Grant Recipient

• Celia Navarro, Jr Project Manager, Iron Bow Technologies.

Bell Techlogix Scholarship Recipient

• Isha Mannan, Biomedical Engineering, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

Ivy Tech Community College Scholarship Recipient

• Perla Cornejo, Nursing, Ivy Tech Community College - Lawrence.

RB Consulting & Vita Nova Undergraduate Scholarship Recipient

• Rebecca Hoff, Biochemistry, Butler University.

Professional Management Enterprises Scholarship Recipient

• Adesola Raji, Biochemistry, Purdue University.

Professional Management Enterprises Scholarship Recipient

• Emma Parsons, Biomedical Health Sciences, Purdue University.

Career Circle Professional Development Grant Recipient

• Andrea Parker, Business Analyst, Managed Health Services.
  
  

Women & Hi Tech would like to express gratitude to all of the annual sponsors as well as the Leading Light Awards, Scholarship and Grant Sponsors. We would like to thank our Platinum Sponsor and the Leading Light Awards Signature Sponsor Eli Lilly & Co as well as all of our community partners who provide incredible continued support of Women & Hi Tech’s mission and made our gala possible.

To learn more, visit womenandhitech.org/2024-Leading-Light-Awards.

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About Women & Hi Tech
Women & Hi Tech exists to change the landscape of women represented in STEM to be equally inclusive to all. To achieve our goal, we work to connect female STEM professionals with each other and our community in Indiana. Our members and sponsors represent a wide array of STEM fields, including life sciences, accounting, engineering, psychology, statistics, and information technology. They work as engineers, analysts, scientists, business developers, marketers, educators, and more.

Media Contact: Colton Howard, colton@dittoepr.com, 317-518-5553

Women & Hi Tech
133 West Market Street, #220
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2801
WHTInfo@womenandhitech.org