Lifetime Achievement in STEM

This year’s honoree for the Lifetime Achievement in STEM Award in Janet Reid, Ph.D. Dr. Reid is an innovative thought leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is the founder and CEO of BRBS World, LLC. Before founding BRBS World, Dr. Reid was the Founder, Managing Partner of Global Novations, LLC.

Applied Scientist of the Year

This year’s Applied Scientist of the Year is Dr. Rukeyser S. Thompson. Dr. Rukeyser S. Thompson’s world has come full circle. Throughout her 18.5-year tenure with P&G, she’s had previous R&D assignments on the Herbal Essences ®, Vidal Sassoon®, Fekkai®, Olay®, Secret®, and Gain®, brands.

Community Advocate of the Year

This year’s Community Advocate of the Year is Candice Matthews Brackeen. Through her leadership at Lightship Foundation and Lightship Capital, Candice has guided hundreds of growth stage tech startups to more than one hundred fifty million dollars in funding.

Community Organization of the Year

History and Purpose of the Organization Learning Through Art, Inc., (LTA) has been building “community” through art for 31 years. Offering programs of cultural arts — the most common bond between people and cultures — to increase opportunities for collaboration, arts education…

Corporation of the Year

This year’s Corporation of the Year is Jacobs. At Jacobs, works every day to make the world better for all. Everything we dfrom addressing water scarcity and aging infrastructure to ensuring access to life-saving therapies, protecting against sophisticated cyberattacks and exploring beyond ourEarth — is more than our daily jobs: They’reour challenges as human beings, too.

Educator of the Year (K-6)

This year’s Educator of the Year (grades K-6) is Lacy Vasser. Lacy is a Cincinnati Public School educator who currently teaches at SouthAvondale Elementary. She has been with South Avondale since 2009, starting as a paraprofessional before becoming a prek-3 teacher in 2017. Ms. Vasser believes education is important, because it teaches values, builds character, and prepares you for your future

Educator of the Year (7-12)

This year’s Educator of the Year for grades 7-12 is Rebecca Dobbs. Ms. Dobbs is an experienced Mathematics teacher at Walnut Hills High School. She has worked in Cincinnati and Charlotte, NC for over ten years. She has also served as the advisor for the NSBE Jr. Chapter at the school.

Engineer of the Year

This year’s Engineer of the Year is Abbiw Jackson. Abbiw is a Sr. Engineering Manager with The Kroger Co. where he manages Capital Projects and Maintenance and Reliability Systems for Kroger’s manufacturing plants across the United States. He is responsible for the growth and development of Project Management amongst Engineers.

Entrepreneur of the Year

This year’s Entrepreneur of the Year is Ms. Chelsea Clark. Chelsea is the founder of the Cincy STEM Lab. ”. Chelsea built her company into a force to help increase access for minorities and girls’ skills necessary for and pathway to high-paying and innovative industries. It is now the largest privately owned full service STEM company in the region.

Faculty Member of the Year

This year’s Faculty Member of the Year is Dr. Norman Loney. Dr. Loney is a retired Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Cincinnati and the former Chair of the Otto H. York Department of Chemical, Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering at NJIT.

Graduate Student of the Year

This year’s Graduate Student of the Year is Lily Botsyoe. a Ph.D. student in Information Technology, She researches the deployment of technology in service of public needs and is an ardent contributor to technology communities working widely on issues. She has walked the TEDx UCincinnati stage as a speaker.

Healthcare Professional of the Year

This year’s Healthcare Professional of the Year is Dr. .Michael A. Thomas, a Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Dr. Thomas is nationally recognized as a leader in the fields of contraception and assisted reproduction.

Rising Star of the Year

This year’s Rising Star of the Year is Dr. Ashley Taylor. She is a Senior Scientist in Haircare Products Research for Procter & Gamble in Mason, Ohio. In her current role, she is responsible for developing holistic Black Hair Care Solutions through in depth understanding of consumer, product, package and technology

Technologist of the Year

This year’s Technologist of the Year is Mrs. Jocelyn Whitfield Jocelyn is Director of Information Security Engineering at Fifth Third Bank currently works as a strategic leader in the organization revolutionizing and modernizing Customer Identity and keeping the consumer customers money safe whenever banking online

Wesleigh White Memorial Scholar