“When I was about 12 years old, I decided that it was going to be my job to encourage girls in my community to love STEM– science technology, engineering and math,” Jacqueline Means told CBS3’s Janelle Burrell.
Miss Black USA Talented Teen Named An AT&T Black Future Maker
In Wilmington, Delaware, Jacqueline Means stands before a classroom of young people with a beaker in one hand and a pipette in the other. The young stem scientist known professionally as “The STEM Queen” is conducting a session for young students on the wonderful world of science, technology, engineering and math. For the newly crowned Miss Black USA Talented Teen, STEM isn’t simply a passion, but also an opportunity to help young women from her community of Southbridge see beyond their surroundings. Through the Wilmington Urban STEM Initiative, which she founded, Means has shared her love of science with thousands of youth, spreading light in a community often cited for its crime.
Tennessee Teen Wins $5000 Kennetra Searcy Scholarship for Girls
Kennetra Searcy, Ms. Black USA and The Miss Black USA Organization is pleased to announce the selection of Carlisha Mckenzie of Chatanooga, Tennessee as the 1st Winner of the Kennetra Searcy Scholarship for Girls. The $5,000 award is open to high school seniors throughout the U.S. Carlisha is a senior at the only all girls STEM school in Tennessee, Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy. She has an intense passion for science and math.
Carlisha is the second oldest of three siblings. She plans to major in Chemistry to become a forensic pathologist. She would like to become a forensic pathologist to make a difference by turning a tragedy into something positive, by saving lives and giving closure to families.
We wish to thank all of this year's applicants and wish them well as their pursue their academic pursuits. Applications for 2018 will open on January 1st, 2018 at 7:00am EST.
To date, the Miss Black USA Organization has awarded over $450,000 in scholarships and excited to partner with Kennetra Searcy to establish the Kennetra Searcy Scholarship for Girls.