By Brandon Barger
TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS—Annie Ostojic already has an impressive resume: Named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Energy list, The Best Schools 50 Smartest Teens list, and holds patents for creating a microwave that saved energy and for creating a battery charger that takes indoor light and recycles it.
All at the age of 15.
Now Ostojic, a junior at Munster High School, and three other Indiana high school students, can add one more accolade: The newest members of Gov. Eric Holcomb STEM team for their accomplishments in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
She and the other students – Carter Goldman, a senior at Lake Central High School in St. John; Eliza Mount, a senior at Scottsburg High School; and Jerry Wang, a junior at Carmel High School – were chosen from 150 applicants statewide.
At a ceremony Thursday at the governor’s Statehouse office, each received a $1,000 check from the Indiana’s College Choice 529 Direct Savings Plan and a sports letterman’s jacket in Indiana’s blue-and-gold colors, each with either an S, T, E or M denoting the field of their achievement.
“This is truly one of my favorite days,†Holcomb said as he welcomed the students and their families to his office. “…First and foremost, I want to congratulate Annie, Carter, Jerry, and Eliza for your journey so far and the fantastic achievements that you already accomplished and then we’re so anxious to see where life’s journey will continue to take you.â€
The Governor’s STEM team was announced in 2017 as a way to add on to former Gov. Mitch Daniels’ Mr. and Ms. Math and Science Award.
Ostojic has summed up the attitude of the STEM team members in a quote from herself on her own business cards: “Never stop challenging yourself to use your talents and skills to impact positive changes in our world.â€
The students and their achievements are:
Science:
Annie Ostojic, Munster High School
Ostojic has been recognized at the White House Science Fair, was inducted into the National Gallery for America’s Young Inventors for her battery charger and received the National Center for Women and Information Technology Aspirations in Computing Award in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Ostojic will be featured in a textbook later this year as an Indiana STEM role model. She plans to take time between high school and college to pursue her interests.
Technology:
Carter Goldman, Lake Central High School
Goldman’s journey to his award was very different from others. Someone at his high school once told him that his face would look great on a shirt. Goldman took that suggestion and made the shirt to sell. When he saw the demand for it, he created his own e-commerce platform to sell items, such as dresses, ties, and even shoes, with his face on it.
He is now creating software that will allow users to use Virtual Reality headsets to interface with robots in a virtual space. He plans on attending the University of Notre Dame this fall to double major in computer science and data science.
Engineering:
Eliza Mount, Scottsburg High School
Mount’s love of engineering started at Walt Disney World. It was on trips to the amusement part that sparked her interest in engineering. She says she was amazed at how the swampland where the park sits was turned into a viable location. Her dream job? Being a Disney Imagineer.
While in high school, Mount earned Manufacturing Skill Standard Council certification in the fields of Production Technician, Manufacturing Processes and Production, Quality Practices and Measurements, and Safety. Mount will attend Purdue University this fall to major in civil engineering.
Mathematics:
Jerry Wang, Carmel High School
Wang’s interest in math grew elementary school when he did an independent study on black holes. Wang earned perfect scores on not only the SAT and ACT math sections, but also on the SAT II Math Level 2, the SAT II Physics, and the SAT II Chemistry exams.
Currently, Wang is working on research through IUPUI to figure out the analytics to the placement of 3D facial landmarks. He wants to study more in the computer science and electrical engineering fields but is waiting to decide on a college at this time.
FOOTNOTE: Â Brandon Barger is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
