Education Sponsors
Scholarship Challenge Spokespersons
Our search for spokespersons for our Scholarship Challenge is now complete, and the young people selected are: Ayesha Bose, Tasha Mayne, and RJ Vaughn. The primary objective as an NRF spokesperson is to bring awareness via the media about nanotechnology to other students across the US, as well as the general population, while raising funds for his/her own scholarship - college tuition and expenses.
Ayesha Bose
Ayesha, who lives in the San Diego area, has a strong commitment to scientific research and is passionate about encouraging young girls' interest in science. She started a program to do just that at her neighborhood elementary school. "We conduct experiments every other week," says Ayesha, "and try to get the students excited about this fulfilling career choice. In this process, I hope to develop my own skills as a scientist and a teacher." She also competed in San Diego’s Outstanding Teen contest last year. She was the first runner-up, based on the platform of "Promoting Women in the Fields of Science and Technology" and won the award for raising the most money in San Diego’s Outstanding Teen competition.
On Friday evenings you are likely to find her in a machine shop, trying to create grooves in aluminum shafts for a trebuchet. "Coming home on those late nights, covered in a mixture of lube and metal shavings," says Ayesha, "I have never felt better." She is involved in her school's FIRST Robotics Team, and this year the team plans to compete in the local competition as well as Las Vegas. She is also a member of the Science Olympiad Team. Over the years, she has built award-winning robots, catapults, and a Rube-Goldberg device. Her projects have won medals every year.
Ayesha spoke at multiple Lions club meetings last year to promote immigration reforms. She heard many immigrant families talking about their struggles and was able to relate to them. She met with congressional candidate Vicky Butcher at one of these events during her speech on immigration and shared some of her ideas. "Working through the Lions Club was one of my first exposures to public speaking, and was definitely a very rewarding experience," said Ayesha.
When asked why she thought she would make a good spokesperson for the NRF, Ayesha replied: "My interest in science and engineering as well as my work in fundraising and public relations make me a great potential spokesperson for NRF. I feel that my passion resonates with the words of Archimedes- 'Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it and I shall move the world'. One day, I hope to truly 'move the world'."
Tasha Mayne
Tasha, who lives in Pflugerville, Texas, is a high school junior with a love of engineering. As she puts it: "Since before I can remember I have been uncontrollably and irrevocably in love with math and science, with learning how something works and how to build it."
That may not be the first thing you think of when you see Tasha, because she has worked as a professional model and acted in commercials and on the Disney Channel. When her peers ask her why she is interested in engineering, she replies: "Most people think engineer, and automatically the words 'difficult' and 'stressful' come to mind. Based on my appearance, most people assume that engineering is a challenge I can’t handle. When I am asked this question, I always answer that to be an engineer has always been my dream. Just to be able to say I was a part of a company or team that builds new technology or machines to improve the lives of people, or make items more available, or even just improve the technology that already exists, would be success in my eyes."
Tasha is the first to admit that her junior year has been tough so far. "There are tests every week for practically every class," she says, "but I have been fighting through it to maintain my class rank - number 6 out of about 400 students - and a GPA of 5.166 on a 5 point scale." In addition to her excellent academic performance, Tasha participates in cross country, track, UIL academics, ACC classes, AP classes, and community volunteering. She has also been inducted into National Honor Society.
Tasha recently entered an engineering internship with NASA, High School Aerospace Scholars. This internship will allow her to have personal and firsthand experience of what engineers at NASA do on a day to day basis. She has already begun taking online classes in preparation. She is also involved in tutoring athletes at her school, such as football players and track members, and "to my surprise" was voted Homecoming Queen of the 2010 graduating class.
About her interest in nanotechnology, Tasha said: "After doing some research, I began to realize that nanotechnology was something I really could see myself doing in the future. It also amazed me that nanotechnology spread throughout so many fields. It can be applied to help things from the medical field, such as improving surgery, cures, drug delivery, and medicine, to the development of alternative fuels, improvements in computer technology through miniaturization and mass storage, and innovations in manufacturing. There are so many possibilities when it comes to nanotechnology, and it’s exciting to think that I could be a part of those endless possibilities."
RJ Vaughn
RJ also lives in Pflugerville, Texas. Although resources for attending college are scarce, RJ is determined to get a college education to fulfill his ambition to become an engineer. "I know that I can change the world with some new and unique ideas of mine. There are cures for diseases that have not been discovered. There are new designs that can make equipment faster and more efficient. If I am able to improve upon my educational background by going to college, I know that I will be one of the future leaders of America that can and will make a difference. Biomedical Engineering would be my field of study. There are numerous aspects in the medical field that require research and with nanotechnology, we will be able to develop and even patent cures for rare disorders or even better prosthetics. The idea of creating a better quality of life for someone else would be a blessing to me."
In keeping with his aspirations to become and engineer, RJ has participated in the NCSoft Summer 2008 Intern program and the AA-National Society of Black Engineers/Fresh Start Program last spring.
RJ is an active volunteer in his community. He is a youth leader/exhorter and mentor and musician for Selah Ministries, a volunteer for Special Olympics wheelchair bowling, a homeless missions volunteer for Angels Recovery Church, a special needs volunteer for Jr. NBA/WNBA Cares, and a promotion volunteer for the Austin School of Performing & Visual Arts.
In addition to his academic and volunteer work, RJ has done some modeling work. He was a winner of both the Wilhelmina Model Search and Atlanta’s Young Faces Model search. RJ is also an accomplished musician. He has been playing the alto saxophone for 7 years and has recently started playing drums and piano as well. He plays first chair alto sax in the Hendrickson High School Symphonic Band, was a member of the USSBA Marching Band State Champion band, has participated in the Lone Star Showcase of Music and the BOA Grand Nationals , and he was a member of the Connally High School JV Band.
When we asked RJ what the NRF spokesperson role would mean for him, he repled: "My parents do not have the ability to put money aside for my college education as well as my siblings' education. Sometimes, just getting the study books that I need for my SATs and AP classes has been a struggle for them. I want to do all that I can to help raise the needed funds that I will need to go to college. I will continue to give back not just in the classroom, but also in my community and the world as a whole. I am excited for this incredible opportunity and I look forward to working along with the NRF. I vow to exceed your expectations."
