Eight University of North Georgia (UNG) students in STEM degree programs were selected to attend the National Science Foundation (NSF) Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) conference in Chicago in November. They are part of UNG's STEM Scholars (STEMS) Program funded by a $1.5 million NSF grant.

Students included: Rayya Abdullah, Micah Chandler, Jiselle Gonzalez, Hanzhen Guo, Shae Jolivette, Chase Manzanarez, Luke Millaway, and Albany Zavarce.  

Gonzalez, the sole presenter from UNG, shared her summer REU research "Does self-pollination affect the germination rate in self-compatible plant species?" Andrew Davies of Chicago Botanic Garden was her REU supervisor.

"I was initially anxious about my presentation. But the conference environment was inviting, and having my other STEMS scholars with me as support made my experience pleasant," she said. "The NSF S-STEM conference was my first, and the experience was incredible. The workshops, guest speakers and career fairs inspired a sense of camaraderie and provided insight into how to approach job interviews and grad school applications."

During the career fair, Gonzalez, a senior pursuing a degree in biology, said she met many potential employers and connected with the Department of Energy to discuss available federal internships that will bring her one step closer to achieving her career goals.

Gonzalez is from Oakwood, Georgia.

"Attending the National Science Foundation annual student professional networking and information conference allowed our UNG STEMS scholars to connect with industry experts and peers, expanding their career knowledge and opportunities while gaining valuable insights into STEM fields," Dr. Natalie Hyslop, a professor of biology and principal investigator for the UNG STEMS Program said. "Additionally, it helped students build essential networking skills, stay informed about current trends and gain a competitive edge in the job market."

Manzanarez shared that the event showed the vast prospects for a future in STEM.

"The experience was super eye-opening and informative. It really helped me to see what all opportunities and careers are in the STEM space," the sophomore from Loganville, Georgia, said. "I was super excited about getting the chance to go to all the different workshops that were held." 

Manzanarez, who is pursuing dual degrees in environmental spatial analysis, said that he also enjoyed the research poster sessions and said it was "super interesting and informative to see all the different experiments and research being done, as well as getting to talk and network with a plethora of people."

Zavarce said the event provided information and inspiration.

"It was very interesting and eye-opening experience since I found out about many opportunities like fellowships and many scholarships that I can apply for," she said. "I was able to understand that I can do big things. Being a woman in STEM is challenging, but it showed me that if I try my hardest, I can achieve whatever goal I have in mind."

Zavarce is a junior from Dacula, Georgia, pursuing a degree in with aspirations of utilizing her GIS and AutoCAD skills.

Abdullah aspires to become a marine mammalogist and is pursuing a degree in biology said the trip "re-sparked" her passion for her career goals.

"Being able to connect with different STEM students around the country was very eye-opening because I was able to see how many of us there are," the sophomore from Cumming, Georgia, said. "Through attending this meeting, I was able to connect with a student from the University of the Virgin Islands for possible future research when I continue on to graduate school. This will be able to help me achieve my goals because the research that I could possibly be part of is pairing whale/dolphin calls with different pods and this would be a great step toward becoming a marine mammalogist."

Jolivette, a junior from Benicia, California, pursuing a degree in mathematics, said the experience solidified her career plans.

"It was also very motivating and inspiring to be surrounded by so many people in STEM," she said. "I had been considering a doctoral degree in applied mathematics, and after this trip, I'm certain this is what I want to do."

Future education was also on the mind of Chandler, a junior from Cumming, Georgia, pursuing a degree in mathematics, like Jolivette.

"At the graduate school fair, I had a chance encounter with a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) professional who was a math Ph.D. student. We talked for about an hour, and he provided me with clear guidance on applying for a career at NOAA," Chandler said. "Thanks to his advice, I'm currently applying for an internship there and have a clear direction for my research and studies. The mentorship I received was invaluable, and without the opportunities presented at the NSF SSTEM meeting, I wouldn't have had this chance."

Chandler aspires to be a data scientist for NOAA, focusing on fishery conservation.

Millaway, currently a senior from Cleveland, Tennessee, is pursuing a degree in biochemistry and minors in leadership and Korean. He said meeting with graduate school representatives at the conference was "very beneficial" and he looks forward to presenting research at future conferences. Millaway plans to commission into the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant, ultimately becoming a military research scientist.