Jessica Wang Earns $2,000 Women’s Empowerment Scholarship

 
It is with great pleasure we announce Jessica Wang, a recent 2024 graduate of Westwood High School, has been named the recipient of a $2,000 academic grant, made possible by The Women’s Empowerment Scholarship and The Rotary Club of Westwood. Jessica was honored and learned the news during Westwood High School’s Senior Class Night ceremony.
 

This year, The Rotary Club of Westwood made a $2,000 donation to The Women’s Empowerment Scholarship, and the WES Board of Directors made the commitment to award that money to a single recipient who resides in Westwood, or a combination of multiple recipients who reside in Westwood.
 

After careful consideration of the applications that were submitted by Westwood residents, our application review team determined Jessica’s qualifications set her apart from the field. We are happy to offer this grant as Jessica pursues her academic career at Columbia University.
 

Jessica has won numerous awards during her time at Westwood High School, while leading the Academic Decathlon team to the national competition two consecutive years. She also participated in the American Math Competition and the American Individual Mathematics Examination, for which she was commended for scoring in the top 2.5% nationwide.
 

As one of few female students in STEM classrooms, Jessica’s interactions with her peers and teachers were often affected by misogyny. During her junior year, she was invited to compete in the Math Prize For Girls, spending a weekend at MIT and befriending female mathematicians from across the United States and Canada.
 

In the fall of 2023, Jessica established the New England chapter of INTEGIRLS to foster a community where girls interested in math can dive into male-dominated fields without hesitation. The group hosted in-person competitions at Phillips Exeter Academy and MIT.
 

The Women’s Empowerment Scholarship was founded in 2018 and has awarded more than $90,000 in academic grants since. The foundation provides educational grants to women throughout New England while paying special attention to women entering into one of many male-dominated career paths, including, but not limited to, science, technology, engineering, finance, and law. In aiding women financially, The Women’s Empowerment Scholarship team aims to propel their careers and allow them to shatter any and all glass ceilings and stereotypes.
 

Thank you to The Rotary Club of Westwood for its support and congratulations to Jessica Wang, our 2024 Westwood recipient of The Women’s Empowerment Scholarship.