The Highline Branch of the American Association of University Women held its annual Young Scholars reception at the Highline District Offices on May 7 to honor local eleventh grade girls who have excelled in science, math, and technology.

The students were nominated by their teachers and counselors from Highline, Evergreen, Tyee, Aviation, Mount Rainier, Kennedy, and Seattle Christian High Schools

The keynote speaker, Dr. Erika Wagner, Business Development Manager of Blue Origin, talked about the thousands of job opportunities that will be available in the private sector of space exploration.

Her advice of “proceeding step by step ferociously” provided inspiration to the young honorees and was especially timely as these girls face one more year of high school and make decisions about their future.

This is the twelfth year the Highline Branch AAUW has been sponsoring and encouraging young women to pursue excellence in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) careers.