On Tuesday, a 15-year-old prodigy and entrepreneur, Alena McQuarter, will be getting a key to the city for her outstanding accomplishments in academia and business.“We are incredibly proud to have such a talented and driven young individual like Alena as part of our community. Her dedication, intelligence, and entrepreneurial vision inspire us all, and we are honored to recognize her achievements,” said Roanoke Mayor Scooter Geirisch.
Alena graduated high school at age 12. At the time, she became the youngest person of color to work as an intern at NASA. At age 13, she became the youngest African American to ever be accepted to medical school and the second youngest overall when she enrolled at the University of Alabama Heersink School of Medicine, which offered admission this year through the school's Burroughs Wellcome Scholars Early Assurance ProgramShe recently graduated with her Master's Degree Summa Cum Laude with Highest Distinction from Arizona State University, where she majored in Biology.
to provide resources and access to other girls in STEM while encouraging them to pursue careers in the field. Her organization has provided over $100,000 in STEM scholarships locally and abroad, as well as funding mental health care access for college students.