Women & Hi Tech Announces 2026 Leading Light Award Winners & Scholarship Recipients
(Oct 2, 2026 – Indianapolis, IN) Women & Hi Tech recognized over 125 incredible scholarship applicants and award nominees on Oct. 1, 2026, at the Leading Light Awards & Scholarship Gala. Over 550 attendees gathered at the Indiana Roof Ballroom to celebrate diverse women of excellence and one male ally in Indiana’s STEM community.
During the program, emceed by Lindsay Gramlich, President and CEO of Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis, Women & Hi Tech announced over $60,000 in scholarships and grants to diverse women and girls at all stages of their science, technology, engineering and math careers and recognized 9 Leading Light Award recipients.
“Every award presented and scholarship granted represents more than an achievement. It represents possibility,” said Women & Hi Tech President Heidi Melton. “Progress is not only something we witness, it is something we create together. Together, we can build a future where every girl and woman can see herself belonging, leading, and thriving in STEM.”
Women & Hi Tech is delighted to share the announcement of the 2026 award and scholarship recipients.
Leading Light Award Winners
Mentor Me! Award
Molly Harrison, LibertyWorks Chief Engineer, Research & Technology, Rolls-Royce North America
Leadership Award
Teresa Conroy-Roth, Director, Business Engagement and Development, Huron
Risk Taker Award
Rosana Serikawa, Discovery & Development Biology Research Leader, Corteva Agriscience
Rising Star Award
Erin Hancock, Research Investigator, Corteva Agriscience
You Inspire Us! Award
Marta Piñeiro-Núñez, Associate VP - Talent Development Academy, Eli Lilly and Company
Outstanding Educator in STEM Award
Dr. Crystal Morton, Founder and Executive Director, Girls STEM Institute
Outstanding Achievement in STEM Award
Jennifer Hamilton, Biotechnology Capability Leader - GCOE Pipeline, Signal, and Deployment, Corteva Agriscience
OperationALL Male Ally Award
Reza Rasoulpour, Chief Technology Officer, Corteva Agriscience
Change the Landscape Award
Kristen Cooper, Founder and CEO, The Startup Ladies
Leading Light Scholarship Recipients
Women & Hi Tech Undergraduate Scholarship
Sreepadaarchana Munjuluri, Neuroscience, Indiana University Indianapolis
Women & Hi Tech Graduate Scholarship
Jayda Yancey, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Organic Chemistry, Indiana University
Women & Hi Tech High School Senior Scholarship
Sara Dustova, Computer Science, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Bell Techlogix High School Senior Scholarship
Lilian Tryon-Gimenez, Chemical Engineering, Purdue University
Women of Eight Eleven & Brooksource Undergraduate Scholarship Hannah Kenworthy, Engineering, Purdue Polytechnic New Albany
RB Consulting & Vita Nova Strategy Undergraduate Scholarship
Fatimah Al Rikabi, Neuroscience, Indiana University Indianapolis
Central Indiana ISACA Undergraduate Scholarship
Inioluwa Oyatobo, Informatics (Cybersecurity), Indiana University Indianapolis
TechPoint Youth High School Senior Scholarship
Rishita Maheshwaram, Computer Science. Purdue University
Sallie Undergraduate Scholarship
Sahanaa Nishkaran, Interdisciplinary Studies, Indiana University Indianapolis
SIM Indy Undergraduate Scholarship
Maninder Kaur, Computer Science, Purdue University
SIM Indy Graduate Scholarship
Diya Singh, Master of Science in Computer Science, Indiana University Indianapolis
Republic Airways High School Scholarship
Maria DeLong, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Purdue University
Republic Airways Undergraduate Scholarship
Madison Akridge, Aviation Management, Purdue University
Republic Airways Undergraduate Scholarship
Allie Hopkins, Professional Flight Technology / Aviation Management, Purdue University
Women & Hi Tech Professional Development Grant
Alexis DeBard, Undergraduate Student, Purdue University
Women & Hi Tech Professional Development Grant
Isha Mannan, Undergraduate Student, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
TechPoint Professional Development Grant
Kelsey Eberle, Product Marketing Manager, iA
TechPoint Professional Development Grant
Jasmeen Kaur, Undergraduate Student, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Jo Basey Spirit Scholarship
Adedoyin Famuyiwa, Mathematics, Computer Science, Purdue University
Women & Hi Tech Rare Nickel Scholarship
Suhani Maini, Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University Indianapolis
Women & Hi Tech #InThisTogether Scholarship
Emma Parsons, Public Health, Purdue University
Women & Hi Tech would like to express gratitude to all of its annual sponsors as well as the Leading Light Awards Event, Scholarship and Grant Sponsors. We would like to thank our Platinum Sponsor and the Leading Light Awards Signature Sponsor Eli Lilly and Company, as well as all of our partners and community connections who provide continued support of Women & Hi Tech’s mission and made our gala possible.
To learn more, visit https://womenandhitech.org/LLA
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About Women & Hi Tech
Women & Hi Tech exists to change the landscape of women represented in STEM to be equally inclusive to all. To achieve our goal, we work to connect female STEM professionals with each other and our community in Indiana. Our members and sponsors represent a wide array of STEM fields, including life sciences, accounting, engineering, psychology, statistics, and information technology. They work as engineers, analysts, scientists, business developers, marketers, educators, and more.
