Obama: More Women And Minorities Should Take On STEM, And This Student Is Proof
An engineering student’s dedication to her field has earned her praise from the president.
Camille Eddy, sophomore at Boise State University, was chosen to introduce president Obama for his speech at her college earlier this week, according to KTVB.com. While the mechanical engineering student, who is involved in various leadership positions and projects in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields, said she was “absolutely floored” to be awarded the opportunity, it was the president, who was wowed by her accomplishments.
“Camille’s done research for NASA, she’s got real job experience with industry partners, she’s the leader of your microgravity team, and by the way she’s only a sophomore,” Obama said during his speech on middle-class economics, applauding Eddy’s achievements, according to a statement from the White House. “She might have invented time travel by the time she’s done at Boise.”
Indeed, the sophomore’s resume boasts many impressive accomplishments, including involvement with her school’s microgravity team — a group that is working to develop a method that will help astronauts gather rocks on asteroid missions, KTVB.com reported.
It’s this engagement in the STEM field, the president says, that makes Eddy a role model for many young college students.
“She’s a great example of why we’re encouraging more women and more minorities to study in high-paying fields that traditionally they haven’t always participated in — in math and science and engineering and technology,” Obama said during his speech. “Think about if we had as many young girls focused and aspiring to be scientists and astronauts and engineers. That’s a whole slew of talent that we want to make sure is on the field.”
In addition to the praise Eddy received, Obama also signed the sophomore’s notes from her own introduction, Boise State Public Radio reported. Eddy says that the experience was one that will only motivate her in her future endeavors.
“It just gives me more fuel to go back to work,” she told the Idaho Statesman.
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