There’s no single path to a successful career in STEM. And oftentimes those paths look less like a straight line and more like a jungle gym.
Mentors and speakers shared these sentiments with high school junior honorees, their families and their teachers at the 35th annual Sandia Women’s Connection Math & Science Awards held Tuesday, March 24, at Las Positas College in Livermore.
“The underpinnings of what we do at the national laboratories is based in math and science,” said Toby Townsend, associate Labs director for the Deterrence, Science & Energy Division. “If you pursue your curiosity in math and science, you’re going to find your way into professions and adventures you never would have imagined. I encourage you to enjoy that journey, have fun doing it, get lost and don’t worry about it when you get off track — you’ll find your way back.”
Nominated by teachers and school administrators, 45 students from 28 schools throughout the greater Bay Area earned recognition for this year’s event. More than 40 Sandia Women’s Connection members volunteered their time to plan the event and connect with students during the mentoring portion of the evening.
“Be willing and open to letting people mentor you,” Toby said. “The world and our society will do more of that than you expect. People you don’t know will put their arm around you — just like this group. They will help guide you if you’re willing to listen.”
Keynote speaker Sheryl L. Hingorani, laboratory chief of staff at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, imparted similar words of wisdom to award recipients. Hingorani, who spent 33 years at Sandia before joining Lawrence Livermore, discussed her professional path and the value in being open to opportunities that arise.
“My career has had peaks and valleys,” she said. “I’ve had times where I felt very connected, very successful and impactful. And I’ve also had times where I struggled and doubted myself and stumbled a bit along the way. And I think that’s fine — in fact, that’s good. Maybe we’re not trying hard enough if we don’t stumble now and then. It makes us more resilient and agile for the next thing to come.”
Hingorani referred to it as “courageous failure,” adding that while she may have lost out on some positions along the way, it always opened the door for others.
“The labs are an amazing place,” she said. “You can work at the same lab and have a bunch of different careers. In the STEM field, you will be able to contribute to this very large array of quickly expanding challenges that we have to solve. Seek the most challenging problems.”
Sandia presented honorees with certificates and congratulated them with a special Sandia Women’s Connection challenge coin.
“This is a meaningful recognition of your hard work, for your dedication to learning and as a person of integrity and inspiration to others,” said Sandia Women’s Connection Co-Chair Pam Lober. “It symbolizes that you have risen to the challenge and are on a path to achieving remarkable things in STEM and beyond.”
Las Positas College representatives shared their encouragement with awardees and recognized Sandia for its partnership. In addition to the Sandia Women’s Connection awards, Sandians help organize and volunteer at the annual DOE Science Bowl and annual STEM Day held at Las Positas.
“You’re supporting the college and our students,” said Kenneth Cooper, Las Positas College Foundation executive director. “Sandia is not only recognizing excellence, it’s actively helping to build a pipeline for future scientists, engineers and innovators.”