American Association of University Women (AAUW) STEM scholars and grant recipients from Coupeville, Oak Harbor and South Whidbey high schools were honored at a reception on April 10 at the Coupeville Methodist Church.

The Whidbey Island Branch of AAUW initiated the STEM program in 2001 to recognize high school juniors for outstanding achievement in mathematics, science and technology. Teachers at the three island high schools selected the top female students in these areas.

The branch also chose three seniors who received grants and two seniors received memorial scholarships.

Nine juniors received AAUW of Washington Certificate of Excellence and $100.

From Coupeville High School were: Amanda d’Almeida, mathematics; Amanda d’Almeida, science; Jai’Lysa Hoskins, technology.

From Oak Harbor High School were: Christina Wicker, mathematics; Madeline Mosolino, science; Cierra Mioduski, technology.

From South Whidbey High School were: Bonnie Klamm, mathematics; Bonnie Klamm, science; Carley Schwoerer, technology.

The AAUW Whidbey Island Branch High School Grants of $2,000 were awarded to three seniors. From Coupeville High School was Taylor Lawson, from Oak Harbor High School was Cheyenne Stolmeier and from South Whidbey High School was Taya Fiona Jae.

The Dale Fischer Memorial Arts Scholarship of $1,200 was awarded to senior Amy Arand, and the Susan Blank Memorial Arts Scholarship of $1,600 was awarded to senior Nicole Ledgerwood, both students from South Whidbey High School.

This year’s speaker at the event was Kira Homola, a senior student at the University of Washington, and former recipient of one of the grants. Homola will graduate this June with a degree in oceanography.

In her talk, “Under the Deep Blue Sea,” she described the research trip last summer aboard the R/V Thomas G. Thompson. This research cruise was organized by scientists from the University of Victoria, B.C., who are building a network of cables and sensors on the seafloor that extend from Vancouver Island all the way to Endeavor Seamount, 300 kilometers offshore.

She also discussed climate change. She plans to further her studies with graduate work in geological oceanography.