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$80,000 Marie Curie Scholarship awarded to Sidney High School Student

Thursday, August 15, 2019

OMAHA, NEB. – College of Saint Mary (CSM) has selected Haylee Sloop, of Hamburg, Iowa, as a Marie Curie Scholar, starting in the fall. CSM presented Sloop with a scholarship check for $80,000 when she visited campus this week. She receives the scholarship after standing out in academic talent and showing outstanding leadership service.

“Ever since I was a child, I have been passionate about science,” said Sloop. “My mother, a woman in the field of science herself, has always supported my endeavors into the scientific world. With her support, I took classes at the zoo, studied and read about my interests every day, and eventually assisted my high school's Science Bowl team to state competitions.”

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.

Sloop earns the scholarship after achieving several honors at Sidney High School. Some of Sloop’s academic and extracurricular accomplishments include Academic Honor Roll (2016-19), State Science Bowl, Science Club, and Chemistry Club.

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.