High School Student From Morristown Named Governor's STEM Scholar

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Morristown High School student, Catherine Gan Ung was recently named to the Class of 2023’s Governor’s STEM Scholars.

Gan Ung has been accepted as one of 128 STEM students from New Jersey high schools and colleges in their 2022-2023 class, the largest class the program has seen since its inception in 2013.

The program introduces high-achieving students to New Jersey's STEM economy with the goal of retaining talent in the state.

“New Jersey has always been at the center of innovation excellence and scientific discovery led by some of the world’s most talented STEM professionals. The Governor’s STEM Scholars looks to secure this legacy into the future by inspiring students who will make up the next generation of these scientists, engineers, and innovators,” Anthony Cicatiello, President of the Research & Development Council of New Jersey, said in a statement.

Gan Ung, a senior at Morristown High School, has held positions as president of the Engineering Club, a founding member of the Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, a member of the mathematics and science competition teams, a mathematics and chemistry tutor and an ambassador at Morris Museum's Smithsonian Spark!Lab.

She has received awards in mathematics and science, as well as American Red Cross certification in Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED. She attends STEM Academy and has been accepted two years in a row to Johns Hopkins University's Global Health Leaders Conference.

The scholars were selected from a pool of more than 600 applicants. They must have at least a 3.5 GPA, be a high school sophomore through doctorial-level student at a New Jersey-based high school or university, and demonstrate a passion for STEM.

Throughout the academic year, Gan Ung will attend four conferences to learn about various aspects of New Jersey's STEM economy, with a focus on STEM in government, academia and industry.

During the 2022-23 year, these conferences will be held at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University, Rowan University, New Jersey Institute of Technology and Stevens Institute of Technology.

Scholars will tour New Jersey STEM facilities and laboratories, as well as have the opportunity to network with STEM professionals, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the opportunities available throughout the state.

“As we welcome 128 exceptional high school and college STEM students into our 2023 Governor’s STEM Scholars class, we look forward to seeing the impact they make on the Garden State, the country and across the globe,” Cicatiello said.