Two St. Mary's Seniors Named Stamp Scholars

St. Mary’s School is pleased to announce that St. Mary’s is home to two of the ten students offered the Stamps Scholarship in the state of Oregon.
Nicola Chmelir and Vanessa Lim earned the merit-based scholarship as part of the internationally prestigious Stamps Scholar Program focused on creating the next generation of leaders. The highly coveted $125,000 award to the University of Oregon is granted to only ten students in the entire state and is the school's most generous award. It covers tuition, room and board, books, fees and even provides an additional $12,000 in “dream funds” for students to pursue global education, research, and volunteer opportunities. 

Nicola will pursue pre-med with majors in biology and either psychology, mathematics or English literature. She plans to become a physician.

Vanessa will study business administration, focusing on finance, and is considering a double major in an AI-related field. She hopes to pursue her dream of becoming an investment banker and ultimately address the stark inequalities of third-world countries. 

Both seniors score well over the academic requirements for the award and boast extensive involvement in extra-curriculars, including clubs, athletics, employment, and international studies. Learn more with the Q&A below. 


What extra-curricular activities are you involved in? 
Nicola:
  • Co-President of Tutoring Club
  • Co-Founder and -President of Memories to Savor
  • Co-Leader of Rotary Rogue Interact Club
  • Communications, Organization, and PR Leader of Diversity Club
  • Varsity Member of Mock Trial
  • Varsity Member of Tennis
  • Varsity Member of Archery (also on the Advanced Archer Team and Level 1 Instructor for newcomers)
  • Member of Student Council
Vanessa:
  • Robotics (9th-12th) position: Co-leader & Head of Graphic Design and Outreach. 
  • Finance Club (9th-12th) position: Founder and Leader. 
  • Mock Trial (9th-12th) position: Team Leader  
  • Archery (9th-11th) position Varsity member 
  • Globe Club (10th-12th) position: Editor
  • Foreign Exchange Program to China (11th)
  • Speech and Debate (10th-11th) 
  • Robotics (9th-12th) position: Co-leader & Head of Graphic Design and Outreach. 
What organizations, clubs, sports, or jobs have you participated in outside of school?
Nicola:
    • Eagle Scout in Scouts BSA
    • Member of DAR (and the youngest in the group by about 60 years:)
    • Work during summers/breaks for my dad/grandparent's construction/dementia care companies
    Vanessa:
    • Indonesia Mental Health Association (11th-12th) (International volunteer service) position: Founder and leader
    • Set Free Ministry (9th-12th)
    • Work at Chinese Gourmet Express (9th-12th)
    • Work at Kids Unlimited Academy (9th-10th)
    • Work at Sansei Japan (9th-12th)
    • Small catering business: VML.Co

    What is your favorite class, teacher, or experience at St. Mary's?
    Nicola:
    I really loved Children's Literature (and the conversational essay in 10th grade with Mrs. Bruins); all of Mr. Volk's creative writing assignments in English; APUSH (Mrs. Bruins, especially her Great Depression/econ crises simulation); both AP Calc and Multi with St. Onge (so, so grateful that I had him!!) Right now I'm in AP Chem (the hardest, yet most gratifying and interesting class I've ever taken), AP Psych, and African American Literature (a very fascinating class that not only delves into the lasting brutalities of slavery on African Americans but also the mindset of the white supremacist--which fits right in with Psych).

    Vanessa:
    My favorite teachers are Chelsea Qi and Derek Roemer. I like both because they have interesting backgrounds and are always willing to share their wisdom. I can see their passion for teaching. My favorite experience has been traveling to China in 2023. It was the first time I had traveled abroad without my parents. It was a great sense of freedom.

    What do you plan to study in college? 
    Nicola: I am going to pursue pre-med. I will be studying majors in biology and then either psychology, mathematics, or English literature. I plan on exploring minors in French, Arabic, Latin, or some other language.

    Vanessa: I plan to study business administration with a concentration in finance and potentially a minor or double major in data science or an AI-related field.

    What's your dream job?
    Nicola: I'd love to be a physician of some sort, possibly a specialized pediatrician, OB/GYN, radiologist, psychiatrist/psychologist, or something which AI can't take over.

    Vanessa: Investment Banker or Entrepreneur. I am inspired by the stark inequalities I witnessed during my travels. My future goal is to open businesses in underprivileged regions, providing jobs with fair wages. Understanding business logistics, marketing, and the quantitative side of stocks connects with this goal. Additionally, I aim to invest wisely, promoting financial literacy to empower individuals in building secure financial futures.

    How did St. Mary's help prepare you for College? 
    Nicola: St. Mary's has given me the opportunity to explore my heart's desire. Nowhere else could I have taken an independent study of Latin III so that I could also take AP U.S. History, AP Biology, and AP Calculus! Year after year, Mrs. Peterson has helped me fit almost all of my dream classes into a hectic but fantastic schedule. She's helped me so much as my College Counselor; otherwise, I might not have even known about the Stamps Scholar Program in the first place. 

    Vanessa: I wanted to strive for more than what my Indonesian immigrant parents had. I wanted an environment that allowed me to pursue this hunger for success, and that is precisely what St. Mary's did. With the help of precious donors, getting a full-ride scholarship changed my life. I went to a diverse school with state-of-the-art facilities, teachers, and staff members who are passionate about their work.  St. Mary’s has always opened their doors to new ideas. That's what makes it so unique. It prepared me to go into college, knowing that nothing is impossible if you put in the effort, embrace, and set your path.
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