Elkhorn High School student receives $80,000 Marie Curie Scholarship
OMAHA, NEB. – College of Saint Mary (CSM) has selected Meera Cao, of Elkhorn, Neb., as a Marie Curie Scholar, starting in the fall. CSM presented Cao with a surprise scholarship check for $80,000 at Elkhorn High School on Friday, March 29. She receives the scholarship after standing out in academic talent and showing outstanding leadership service.
“Meera is an exceptional student,” said Daryle LaFleur, biology teacher at Elkhorn High School. “She strives to develop an in-depth and complete understanding of [all] material and realizes that personal growth is the direct result of challenging oneself. [Her] drive to learn, ability to balance school and extra-curricular activities, strong moral character, and ability to work well with others will allow her to succeed in college and beyond.”
College of Saint Mary’s prestigious Marie Curie Scholars Program, which is funded in part by the National Science Foundation, provides significant financial support and resources to outstanding young women pursuing study in STEM majors, such as biology, chemistry, or math.
Marie Curie Scholars receive up to $20,000 annually for four years in gift aid. In addition to having access to substantial financial resources and facilities, participants also receive free tutoring, have opportunities for undergraduate research, and have access to top programs like the National Institute of Health and NASA research fellowships. Marie Curie Scholars at CSM also often attend and present at national conferences.
Cao earns the scholarship after achieving several honors at Elkhorn High School. Some of Cao’s academic and extracurricular accomplishments include:
- Honor roll (2015-19)
- USA Biology Olympiad Top Scorer (2017-18)
- Elkhorn High School band leader
At CSM, she plans to major in biology, starting in the fall of 2019. Located in Omaha, in the heart of Aksarben Village, College of Saint Mary uses initiatives like the Marie Curie Scholar Program to provide women from all backgrounds with access to an affordable, excellent college experience, career-driven coursework, and lifelong leadership skills. She is one of five recipients of this year’s Marie Curie Scholarship.
