Former STEM Enhancement in Earth Science Interns Receive Prestigious Awards

The STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) Summer Intern Program is a nationally competitive STEM program for high school students. The program provides selected students with exposure to Earth and Space research. Interns learn how to interpret NASA satellite data while working with scientists and engineers in their chosen area of work. This content knowledge, coupled with hands-on experiences, allows the intern to gain experience in authentic NASA research through field investigation and data analysis. Several former SEES Interns were recognized in January, 2024, for their incredible accomplishments.

2024 Regeneron Science Talent Search

Four former SEES Interns were named in the top 300 scholars in the 2024 Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation's oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. $2,000 will be awarded to each scholar and their schools. Scholars were chosen based on their outstanding research, leadership skills, community involvement, commitment to academics, creativity in asking scientific questions, and demonstration of exceptional promise as leaders in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through original, independent research projects, essays, and recommendations.

The former SEES Interns named in the top 300 are: Nikita Agrawal, 2022 Earth System Explorers; Alexa Bravo, 2022 Asteroid Photometry; David Backer Peral, 2022 Earth System Explorers & 2023 Artemis ROADS, and Riya Tyagi, 2023 Earth System Explorers. The full list of scholars can be viewed at: https://www.societyforscience.org/regeneron-sts/2024-scholars/

Another former SEES Intern, Riya Tyagi, who was part of the 2023 Earth System Explorers Team, was selected as one of 40 finalists in the 2024 Regeneron Science Talent Search. Finalists were selected from 300 scholars and 2,162 entrants and are competing for more than $1.8 million, with a top prize of $250,000. The list of 40 finalists can be viewed at: https://www.societyforscience.org/regeneron-sts/2024-finalists/

Brooke Owens Fellowship

Former SEES Intern, Zoe Koniaris, who was part of the 2019 SEES Mars Exploration Team, was one of 47 Fellows selected for the Brooke Owens Fellowship - a nationally acclaimed nonprofit program recognizing exceptional undergraduate women and gender minorities with space and aviation internships, senior mentorship, and a lifelong professional network.

The Brooke Owens Fellows will each be matched to an executive-level mentor in the aerospace industry who will support and work with the Fellows to help launch their careers in addition to a Brookie Alumni Mentor. Zoe is a Junior studying Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering at Princeton University and will intern with Ball Aerospace.

For the full list of the 47 Brooke Owens 2024 Fellows, visit: https://www.brookeowensfellowship.org/blog/posts/2024/1/30/47-undergraduate-leaders-receive-the-brooke-owens-fellowship-as-the-class-of-2024

The SEES High School Summer Intern Program is funded through NASA Cooperative Agreement Notice NNH15ZDA004C and is a part of NASA’s Science Activation Program.