Corner Canyon High School 9th grader Grace Mead is about as multitalented as a person can be. A stellar 4.0 GPA student, fluent in Mandarin Chinese, part of the school’s dance company, and superstar champion for STEM, Grace’s limitless vision and passion for life have crowned her Miss Draper Outstanding Teen 2018-2019.
Thanks to her efforts passionate outreach efforts to encourage girls toward STEM futures (and a compelling nomination from teacher Jamie Crowther), Grace now holds the title of CenturyLink STEM Excellence Awardee. Grace was honored during last week’s Utah Jazz home game at Vivint Smart Home Arena against the Detroit Pistons.
Prior to taking center court at half-time, Grace jazzed up the pre-game crowd alongside her fellow Corner Canyon High School Dance teammates. Jamie Crowther, CCHS Dance Coach and teacher, was especially instrumental in choreographing an evening Grace will not soon forget.
Ms. Crowther nominated Grace for the CenturyLink STEM Excellence award in large part due to Grace’s amazing advocacy around increasing students’ engagement in STEM learning and careers—particularly increasing female representation in STEM fields. “Grace has been instrumental in her advocacy for STEM education, particularly with young girls,” Ms. Crowther stated. “She has also worked with the engineering teacher and students at a local elementary school to get them excited and interested in the engineering field.”
In fact, this outreach along with Grace’s “Bright Futures Begin with STEM” platform—check it out on Instagram—sprung her into consideration and selection for her current extracurricular role as an official Utah STEM Ambassador, a position through which she helps educate and inspire others to consider the many pathways to successful futures, all stemming from…well, STEM, of course!
“I aspire to become a biomedical engineer, specializing in prosthetics,” Grace said. “Along the way, I hope to be a role model for my peers and the younger generation about what is possible when you find your passion and are determined to follow it through to something meaningful.”
Congratulations and many thanks for your standout STEM outreach, Grace!
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