
Seven College of Saint Mary students recently packed their bags for San Diego โ not for a beach vacation, but for a national STEM symposium that put them in rooms with researchers, mentors and future colleagues from across the country.
The students, all Marie Curie Scholars at CSM, were selected to attend the 2025 S-STEM Scholars Symposium hosted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The gathering brings together students from federally funded STEM scholarship programs with one goal in mind: help more talented students persist in STEM and thrive in the workforce.
For CSMโs scholars, it was more than a conference. It was exposure, affirmation and momentum.
The Marie Curie Scholars program, funded through a National Science Foundation grant, supports women pursuing STEM degrees with tuition assistance, tutoring, faculty mentoring, workshops, research opportunities and internships. The San Diego symposium became an extension of that support system โ only on a national stage.
โAttending the 2025 S-STEM Scholars Symposium gave students the rare chance to connect their academic passions with real-world possibilities,โ said Heather Stigge, associate professor of biology and director of the Marie Curie Scholars program. โBy engaging with mentors, peers and industry professionals, they gained confidence, clarity and a network that will support them long after the conference ended.โ
Workshops covered everything from resume development and science communication to resilience, financial literacy and navigating imposter syndrome. Students explored career paths they had never considered and heard stories from professionals whose journeys didnโt follow a straight line.
โThe conference opened my eyes to the different careers and pathways in STEM,โ said Carolyna Truong, a biology major. โI loved networking with students and mentors from all over the country, and it was fun bonding with the other CSM students. The workshops taught me things that will help me succeed not only in STEM, but in life.โ
For Kara Muller, a biology pre-veterinary student, the highlight was discovering lesser-known career paths. โIt was a great way to meet people in STEM and learn about interesting careers that are rarely talked about,โ she said. โItโs important to highlight critical work in the field, especially for women.โ
Briana Aaron, also a biology major, appreciated the breadth of opportunity. โThere were so many chances to connect with people from across the country and different fields. The seminars were useful and genuinely interesting.โ
Attendance at the symposium is competitive. Students must be nominated by their scholarship director and then selected by a national committee. Roughly 1,000 students nationwide were chosen this year โ and seven were from CSM.
โThat number says something,โ Stigge noted. โIt reflects the strength and dedication of our students and the impact of the Marie Curie Scholars program.โ
For these students, the trip wasnโt just a line on a rรฉsumรฉ. It was a reminder that they belong in STEM spaces โ and that their future careers may be bigger, broader and more possible than they once imagined.