Montana State senior wins international award from Society of Women Engineers

BOZEMAN - Taylor Carey, a senior majoring in chemical engineering at Montana State University, has won the international Outstanding Collegiate Member Award from the Society of Women Engineers.

In announcing the award, the SWE said it "celebrates Carey's exceptional service to SWE, her leadership in campus and community organizations, and her professional and academic achievements in engineering."

"I feel incredibly honored to be recognized with [this award] from the Society of Women Engineers," said Carey, who will graduate in December. "SWE has shaped so much of my college experience by giving me opportunities to lead and connect with other women in engineering. This award is not just a reflection of my own efforts, but of the amazing community of peers, mentors and students I've had the privilege to work alongside."

After graduation, Carey, who is from Wasilla, Alaska, will begin her full-time career with Marathon Petroleum in her home state. She said she plans to continue to provide support to women, especially in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

"It motivates me to keep giving back, supporting women in STEM and carrying SWE's mission forward into my professional career," she said. "I look forward to applying the skills I've developed through research, internships and leadership at MSU to make a meaningful impact in the refining industry."

Carey has garnered more than a dozen awards and scholarships as a student in MSU's Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering, including being named the Society of Women Engineers Past President Scholar, the Kathy Bitner Bryan Memorial Scholar, the Patricia Anderson Scholar and the Leadership Institute Scholar. She has also been recognized as a "student of achievement" by MSU's Women's Center and with the Student Research Video Competition Award from the Council on Undergraduate Research.

She also served as the president of the Society of Women Engineers for two years and serves as an SWE mentor, as a Service Saturday Leader through the Office of Student Engagement, as a fitness instructor at MSU's Student Wellness Center, and as a pen pal in the Letters to a Pre-Scientist program, among other cocurricular activities. She also worked as a researcher in the Thermal Biology Institute's laboratory at MSU, which researches how life survives in extreme heat, such as in Yellowstone's hot springs, to better understand biodiversity and potential scientific applications.

"What I admire most about Taylor is her gift and passion for building community," said Jennifer Clark, assistant dean for student success and retention at the engineering college. "Through her leadership, energy and enthusiasm, she brings people together and makes hard things feel a little easier. She stands out with confidence yet always creates space for others to be recognized and celebrated."

Carey will receive the award at the SWE annual conference in late October.

According to its website, SWE is a not-for-profit educational and service organization founded in 1950 and is "the world's largest advocate and catalyst for change for women in engineering and technology."