Puyallup, Wash., student awarded College of Saint Mary $80,000 Marie Curie Scholarship
OMAHA, Neb. – College of Saint Mary (CSM) has selected Vanessa Caldwell of Puyallup, Wash., as a Marie Curie Scholar starting in the fall. Caldwell received a surprise package with a scholarship check for $80,000 on Wednesday, April 27. She receives the scholarship after standing out in academic talent and showing outstanding leadership service.
“Vanessa is an outstanding senior student,” said Kelsey Wiest, a counselor at Puyallup High School. “She is organized, hard-working, dedicated, and caring. She is compassionate and volunteers her time at her local church in children’s ministry, which helps fuel her interests in becoming a pediatric psychiatrist.”
College of Saint Mary’s prestigious Marie Curie Scholars Program, which is funded in part by the National Science Foundation, provides significant financial support and resources to outstanding young women pursuing study in STEM majors, such as biology, chemistry, human biology or math.
Marie Curie Scholars receive up to $20,000 annually for four years in gift aid. In addition to having access to substantial financial resources and facilities, participants also receive free tutoring, have opportunities for undergraduate research, and have access to top programs like the National Institute of Health and NASA research fellowships. Marie Curie Scholars also often attend and present at national conferences.
Caldwell, the daughter of Melinda and Timothy Caldwell, earns the scholarship after achieving several honors at Puyallup High School. Some of Caldwell’s academic and extracurricular accomplishments include:
- National Honor Society member (3 years)
- Key Club member
- Spanish Honor Society member
- HOSA member
- President’s Award for Outstanding Excellence
At CSM, Caldwell plans to major in biology starting in the fall of 2022. Located in Omaha, in the heart of Aksarben Village, College of Saint Mary uses initiatives like the Marie Curie Scholar Program to provide women from all backgrounds with access to an affordable, excellent college experience, career-driven coursework and lifelong leadership skills. Caldwell is one of eight recipients of this year’s Marie Curie Scholarships.
