The Kirkland-Redmond Branch of the American Association of University Women hosted a reception to recognize 12 Lake Washington School District high school girls on April 25.

The Scholar Recognition Program, one of AAUW’s STEM projects, recognizes girls who have excelled in science, mathematics and technology, and encourages them to continue their education in these fields where women are under-represented. These local scholars are juniors who were selected by the faculties at the high schools in the LWSD.

The girls selected include: Margaret McCredie (Math) and Amber MacKay (Science), Best High School; Carolyn Wilson (Math), Alexandra Glandon (Science) and Abigail Bretvick (Technology), Juanita High School; Suejean Hwangpo (Math), Madeline Warnick (Science) and Sky Frost (Technology), Lake Washington High School; and Sierra Allen (Math), Ashley Walls (Science), Maya Balakrishnan (Technology) and Tara Balakrishnan (Technology), Redmond High School.

Melissa Felix was the guest speaker. A Boeing Co. engineer with a Master’s Degree in mechanical engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University, she spoke to the girls about the exciting opportunities for women in the STEM fields. Her projects for Boeing have led her to be on test flights for the 787 airliner, including one on which she flew to the North Pole.

AAUW is a national organization whose mission is equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research. More information is available at www.aauw.org.