Contributor
Photo credit: Roberto Lazarte
Video credits: Ernesto Sanchez and Roberto Lazarte
Adoniya Paul is a fourth-year student at Sato Academy of Mathematics and Science who has accepted an offer to attend the prestigious California Institute of Technology this fall to study mechanical engineering. She will be the first African American from the Long Beach Unified School District to attend Caltech.
This is an even more remarkable accomplishment considering her background. Growing up with her six siblings in a one-bedroom, one-bath duplex, she said that the night before, her mother and father would wake up before dawn and watch the neighborhood's illegal activities so that the children wouldn't see them. I remember cleaning up the rubble. to school.
“For people who look like me and have lived a similar life, the problem is a lack of educational resources and experiences,” Adoniyah said. “The apparent lack of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education leaves children feeling apathetic and apathetic. And interest is the real key to unlocking potential and fostering learning.” .”
Video: Surprise presentation of Adonijah Paul's Edison Scholar Award.
Encouraging education was never an issue in Adonijah's family. She wanted to share her desire for knowledge with others. As co-captain of the school-sponsored robotics team, she mentors young students and is tasked with helping learners with little or no engineering experience create competitive robots in about two months. I saw first-hand the impact that robotics has on learners.
“They improve their organizational skills, their interpersonal skills, their technical skills, and literally every communication skill you can think of. Most importantly, they learn to think a little more about their impact. They broaden their horizons and improve their regional I have a bigger goal of what I can do for society and the people around me,” Adoniyah said.
In a surprise ceremony at the school, Adonijah learned today that he had won a $50,000 Edison Scholarship to help pay for his education at Caltech. Each year, Edison International awards scholarships to 30 high school seniors with financial need who plan to study STEM in college. Jill Anderson, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Southern California Edison, presented Paul with this honor during his engineering design and development class.
“I am so excited for Adoniyah. I have a degree in mechanical engineering, so I know first-hand the value of a STEM education,” Anderson said. “We need more women and students from diverse backgrounds in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and I am so encouraged that Adonijah wants to spread that message to others. ”
“This really means a lot to me. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for my teachers, my family, and all the people who supported me,” Adonijah said. “I don't feel like I accomplished that. It feels like me and everyone behind me.”
Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson also attended the ceremony and presented her with a certificate in recognition of her outstanding academic achievements. “Adonijah is a trailblazer as the first African American student from Long Beach Unified to attend Caltech, and we are extremely proud of her,” Richardson said. “She is an inspiration to all students who follow in her footsteps. We look forward to hearing about her future successes.”
After the award ceremony, Adonijah was eager to return to class and continue working on her senior project. It's a cold compression sleeve design that better regulates temperature to avoid burning the skin of athletes and patients recovering from injuries.
“She's really intelligent and beautiful, and she works hard from early in the morning until late at night,” said Jermaine Paul, Adonijah's father. She said, “I've never seen it push too many people.”
For more information about the Edison Scholars Program, please visit: on.edison.com/2024scholars.
