The Leading Light Awards were held on October 4, 2018 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom and celebrated the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The event was emceed by Gerry Dick of Inside INdiana Business.

Women & Hi Tech President and Director of Accounts for Metonymy Media, Darcy Lee, welcomed attendees to the gala and spoke of the 19-year history of Women & Hi Tech serving girls and women in STEM in Indiana. Jo Basey was awarded the inaugural Gustafson-Miller Change the Landscape Award for her lifelong contributions to women in STEM and Information Technology, and Lisa Laughner, President & CEO of Go Electric, was awarded the Barnes & Thornburg Hi-Tech Woman of the Year award for outstanding achievements over the course of her career – and recent successes with Go Electric.

The evening included remarks from honored guest Blair Milo, Indiana’s Secretary of Career Connections and Talent, and featured presenters from Eli Lilly and Company, Rolls-Royce, Barnes & Thornburg, Salesforce, Pass the Torch for Women, IUPUI’s Kelley School of Business, Indiana State University, Eleven Fifty Academy, and IU First Lady Laurie Burns McRobbie.

Winners announced during the event include:

• Women & Hi Tech Undergraduate Scholarship - Sheetal Prasanna, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
• Women & Hi Tech Graduate Scholarship - Monica Olson, Purdue University
• Women & Hi Tech Professional Development Scholarship - Candace Studebaker, Science Central (Fort Wayne)
• Women & Hi Tech Professional Development Scholarship - Noelle King, St. Richards Episcopal School
• SIM Indy Leading the Future Scholarship - Melissa Beer, BS, Mathematics - Quantitative Analysis, Franklin College
  

• Mentor Me! - Jan Allen, Roche
• Risk Taker - Dr. Lakshmi Sastry Dent, Corteva Agriscience - Agriculture Division of DowDuPont
• Rising Star - Dr. Debby Basu, American Society for Clinical Pathology
• You Inspire Us! - Dr. Carlotta Berry, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
• Outstanding Educator in STEM - Sara Roberts, Northwestern Consolidated School District of Shelby County
• Outstanding Achievement in STEM - Dr. Carla Klittich, Corteva Agriscience - Agriculture Division of DowDuPont
• Leadership - Meagan Rater, Rolls-Royce
• Barnes & Thornburg Woman of the Year - Lisa Laughner, Founder, CEO & President, Go Electric Inc.
• Gustafson-Miller Change the Landscape Award - Jo Basey, Indiana University, Kelley School of Business, Indiana Business Research Center (Retired)