Millard North High School grad receives $80,000 Marie Curie Scholarship

OMAHA, NEB. – College of Saint Mary (CSM) has selected Madison O’Bryan of Elkhorn, Neb., as a Marie Curie Scholar, starting in the fall. O’Bryan received the surprise scholarship check for $80,000 at her home on Wednesday, April 1. She earns the scholarship after standing out in academic talent and showing outstanding leadership service.

“Madison is a very dedicated student whose diligence and skill set is transferable to all her abilities,” said David McEnaney, a secondary science teacher at Millard North High School. “She is determined to reach her goals, and her self-motivation carries her over obstacles and sets her up to be successful. She is a down-to-earth, hard-working, and determined young lady who does the right thing even when no one is looking.”

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.

O’Bryan earns the scholarship after achieving several honors at Millard North High School and Roosevelt University. Some of O’Bryan’s academic and extracurricular accomplishments include:

• Academic letter (2016, 2019)
• All-State Honorable Mention-Softball (2015)
• Roosevelt University Presidential Academic Scholarship (2019)
   

O'Bryan is a transfer student, recently attending Roosevelt University in Chicago last year. At CSM, she plans to major in biology, starting in the fall of 2020. 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.