UCS senior earns top state STEM award

A Utica Community Schools senior has been honored by a statewide organization dedicated to promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education.

Shelby Imboden, a student at Henry Ford II and the Utica Center for Mathematics, Science and Technology, received the Junior Horizon Award from the Women in Defense Michigan (WID-Michigan) at the group's 5th annual Black Tie Gala.

The Junior Horizon Award honors an exemplary student that is committed to pursuing studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Imboden plans to pursue a degree in biomedical engineering at either Wayne State University, the University of Michigan or Georgia Institute of Technology.

In addition to announcing the Junior Horizon award, WID-Michigan honored female business and industry leaders and awarded college-level scholarships.

"The WID-Michigan Black Tie Gala is an exciting celebration of innovative, leading women in the defense industry as well as those students committed to moving our industry forward in the future," said Julie Wood, President, WID-Michigan. "The Michigan defense industry is delivering incredible innovations to the market. WID-Michigan award honorees are playing a large role in researching, developing and producing game-changing technologies that are keeping soldiers in the field safe and giving them the tools they need to be most effective in their jobs."