High school juniors earn awards for leadership and enthusiasm in STEM

Nine years ago, Alyse Coonce earned an award for her outstanding achievement in math, given to her by the Sandia Women’s Connection employee resource group. This year, Alyse stood in front of the organization again — but this time as a member and keynote speaker at their 34th annual Math & Science Awards.

“The Sandia Women’s Connection holds a special place in my heart, and this is truly a full-circle moment for me,” said Alyse, who spent a year and a half as an intern and then became a full-time systems engineer two years ago at Sandia. “Nine years ago, I was in your exact same position — excited, proud and more than a little nervous, not fully understanding the magnitude of this award. It was the validating experience that gave me that final push, and I walked out of the ceremony with a newfound drive and confidence.”

This outcome is exactly what the committee’s members envision for each recipient: to harness their love of math and science and use it to take their education and their future careers to great places.

“We’re celebrating not only your amazing accomplishments, but we’re also going to applaud your potential to shape our future,” Acting Associate Labs Director Trish Benguerel said. “It’s no mystery that science, technology, engineering and math are the universal keys to unlocking what seems impossible. Every day we are enjoying the benefits of the many things that come from those fields of study.”

Not failing, but falling forward

This year’s event honored 48 students from 28 high schools in Alameda, Contra Costa and San Joaquin counties. Sandia Women’s Connection Director Champion Craig Tewell said he is excited every year for this event, and he encouraged awardees to give themselves permission to fail.

“This is your time to stretch, to try — and maybe don’t think about it as failing but as falling forward,” Craig said. “When you fail, you dare to push your limits. It tells you a lot about yourself. It’s how we learn, it’s how we discover, and it’s how we take risks into the future.”

He cheered them on to take risks such as enrolling in a hard class, asking questions that may feel intimidating and volunteering for things they may not be fully sure they’re ready to do yet.

“I promise you that not everything will go perfectly, but that’s exactly the point,” Craig said. “When things don’t go perfectly, that means you’re doing the right thing because you’re stretching yourself, you’re growing — and that’s fun. It’s where you will find out what you’re truly capable of, and based on what your teachers see in you, you are capable of a lot.”

Sandia Women’s Connection Co-Chairs Pam Lober, Janelle Bottom and Kimberly MacDonald shared some of the nomination statements provided by teachers and school administrators that emphasized awardees’ enthusiasm for math and science.

“What unites all these students — the quality that was present in every single nomination — was not only the student’s exceptional dedication to their studies, but also the impact on their peers and the community,” Janelle said. “These students foster an environment of exploration and collaboration. They embody resilience and ambition, pursuing their passions with determination while showing a remarkable ability to encourage their classmates to excel.”

Students of STEM — and of life

The awards ceremony was held at Las Positas College in Livermore for the first time, which gave honorees a chance to invite more family and friends to the celebration in the large theater, drawing more than 150 attendees.

Representing Las Positas College was Nan Ho, vice president of Academic Services. She thanked Sandia for its leadership in science education and the long history of partnership with the college, which has been the location for the DOE California Regional Science Bowl.

“During those events, I got to meet many Sandians volunteering their time to encourage young people in math and science,” she said. “Sandia has also been a generous donor for scholarships for Las Positas College students. They’ve hired our students as interns and hired our alumni as employees.”

While honorees met with Sandia Women’s Connection mentors prior to the awards ceremony, their parents joined a presentation by Mariaelena Marcano, who leads Sandia California’s Student Intern Programs.

“We invest in our interns,” Mariaelena said, encouraging students to keep Sandia in mind for future internships. “We give you real work, real projects and opportunities to make mistakes, challenge theories and bring your own opinions and expertise. This underscores the value of hands-on experience in professional development and not only promotes learning, but also encourages innovation and critical thinking.”

And as a former intern, keynote speaker Alyse emphasized her experiences at Sandia that have helped propel her career.

“I truly believe Sandia is the best of the best. Never have I met a more dedicated and intelligent community. I’ve had incredible mentors every step of the way. My coworkers have been generous in sharing their expertise for my growth and understanding. They’ve encouraged me to advocate for myself and taught me how to do great work,” Alyse said. “I’m very lucky to have found a job that I love. My hope is this award is everything to you as it was to me.”