Plattsmouth High School graduate receives $80,000 STEM scholarship from College of Saint Mary

OMAHA, Neb. – Kayla Briggs, a 2025 Plattsmouth High School graduate, is the recipient of an $80,000 Marie Curie Scholarship at College of Saint Mary (CSM). 

The scholarship provides support and resources to outstanding women pursuing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) majors. 

“Receiving the scholarship has meant the world to me. It gives me tons of new opportunities and allows me to explore careers in STEM,” said Briggs, who plans to major in human biology and will be a member of the Flames track and field team. “It’s also a community of women that I hope to become close with and make connections with my peers.” 

Marie Curie Scholars receive tuition support of up to $20,000 each year, up to $80,000 over four years. CSM awarded three Marie Curie Scholarships to recent high school graduates who will begin classes at the College in the fall.  

In addition to Briggs, Brennan Beguedou and Jacey Zimmerman of Omaha received the scholarship to pursue STEM majors at CSM, such as biology, chemistry, math or human biology. The Marie Curie program’s goal is to place graduates into STEM graduate schools or careers. 

The Marie Curie Scholars program provides an intentional four-year plan for each cohort of scholars that helps participants succeed in their STEM courses. Scholars are invited to participate in peer bonding activities and skill-based courses that help them transition from high school to college.  

Briggs plans to pursue a career in healthcare and hopes the program will give her opportunities to explore different professions within healthcare. 

During high school, Briggs was an honor roll student and a National Honor Society member. She was involved in DECA, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). She received the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSSA)/Nebraska Chiropractic Physicians Association (NCPA) Academic All-State award in track and field and was on the Trailblazer Conference All-Academic Team. 

Throughout the Marie Curie Scholars program, students receive free tutoring and faculty mentoring. They participate in skill-based workshops and mentored research and internships.  

Participants also have access to prestigious research and professional development opportunities provided by the National Institute of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation, American Association for the Advancement of Science and NASA. Students attend national conferences and present their research findings. 

To prepare for their STEM careers, they attend speaker presentations and networking events with potential employers. 

The Marie Curie Scholarship is funded by a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation.