George Rogers Clark High School student Abigail Martinez has earned a $2,500 scholarship.

DSM Winchester, a global materials and life science-based company, awarded the grant as part of Project Lead the Way.

Jennifer O’Brien, a teacher in the PLTW biomedical sciences pathway at GRC, said in the biomedical sciences pathway, students can use project-based learning to prepare them to be leaders and innovators in the health care field. 

In the “Biomedical Innovations” senior-level class, O’Brien said students have the chance to work on an individual project of their interest. Students then do research or experiment on a chosen topic and showcase the project to DSM.

DSM Nutritional Products, which is located in the Winchester Industrial Park, “delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, feed, pharmaceuticals, alternative energy and bio-based materials,” according to the company website.

The scholarship finalists included Megan Riley, Morgan Hazlett, Martinez and Haley Goldhahn. Martinez, the scholarship recipient, presented her findings on research about a vegan diet.

John Rutten, site director at DSM Winchester, presented the scholarship.

Rutten said the company likes to give back, so it focuses on health and nutrition as well as education.

“As a corporate citizen of Clark County, we want to make a difference — to Do Something Meaningful — in our local community,” Rutten said.

Rutten said the scholarship was created to promote the importance of higher education, especially in developing STEM skills.

“The $2,500 DSM Project Lead the Way Scholarship is intended to encourage Clark County students to continue their pursuit of higher education, and become the solution providers of today’s global challenges and those we have yet to see,” he said.