Olawumi Olaniyan, set to graduate in 2025, has called Mill Creek home for the past 12 years. Her deep-rooted interest in aerospace and the wonders of space exploration have led her to the Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS) program, where students get the unique opportunity to collaborate with NASA and plan a mission to Mars. "The WAS students get to work with NASA and study in-depth research about space, which is one of my main interests," Olawumi shares.

The program's summer session, which involves planning a mission to Mars, is particularly exciting for Olawumi. "When I was younger, I loved the Museum of Flight's Mission to Mars exhibit. Going more in-depth this summer will be really fun," she says. Her fascination with aerospace began in sixth grade when she participated in a Museum of Flight program. "I learned about all kinds of companies and jobs within the aerospace industry," she recalls, marking the start of her journey into the field.

Inspiration plays a significant role in Olawumi's life. Her parents, both engineers at Boeing, are her biggest motivators. "Their story inspires me every day to be the best that I can be. After working so hard to leave Nigeria for a better life for our family, I know that all the setbacks my parents experienced are simply steppingstones for me. Their stories inspire me to believe that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to," she explains.

For future students interested in STEM, Olawumi offers this valuable advice: "Take a lot of science and math classes and allow yourself to learn and grow as a student. Do not be discouraged if you don't do so well at the beginning. Also take extra opportunities like summer classes and internships to learn more about individual parts of STEM to really broaden your outlook on what you would like to do."

Looking ahead, Olawumi has ambitious goals. She plans to study biotechnology in college and then proceed to medical school to specialize in neurology or neurosurgery. Her ultimate dream is to work with NASA to find more efficient ways to prepare humans for long-term space travel or even living in space. "I would like to work with NASA to help find more efficient ways to get humans ready for long-term space travel or even living in space," she envisions.

Olawumi encourages others to consider joining the WAS program, sharing, "If anyone is interested in the program, I had a really great time doing it and highly recommend joining WAS." Her passion and dedication to her goals are sure to inspire many future scholars and pave the way for significant contributions to the field of aerospace and beyond.