McKinstry Awards 2023 Tara Carney Memorial STEM Scholarship
DENVER, CO — McKinstry is committed to inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals nationwide. For nearly a decade, we have partnered with Denver Public Schools, providing impactful STEM experiences to underserved students. Tara Carney, our former Colorado regional director for Energy, was a passionate advocate for women and girls in STEM. As a dedicated mentor and volunteer within Denver Public Schools, she worked to guide and empower young girls towards success in STEM fields. Sadly, Tara lost her battle with cancer in late 2022. In her honor, McKinstry announced the Tara Carney Memorial Scholarship, offering a scholarship to young women graduating from a Denver Public School in 2023, supporting their pursuit of a post-secondary STEM pathway.
In April 2023, the Tara Carney Memorial Scholarship Committee gathered to evaluate applications from graduating young women of Denver Public Schools who showed a keen interest in pursuing a STEM career. After a thorough review, the committee unanimously selected Yariah Hudson as the recipient of the 2023 Tara Carney Memorial Scholarship. Committee member, Sarah Parsons, praised Yariah’s application as “genuine and vulnerable,” qualities that exemplified the strength embodied by Tara herself. Yariah’s passion lies in the medical field, driven by a deep-seated ambition to uplift women and underserved individuals in her community through her educational journey and future medical profession— an ambition Tara would have undoubtedly commended.
Yariah graduated from Manual High School in May 2023 and will continue her education this fall at the Community College of Denver.
Learn more about the Tara Carney Memorial Scholarship here: Memorial Scholarship Focuses on STEM Education in Denver