Mary Okolla (left) and Sapjah Zapotitla's (right) were selected for the program for their research in the STEM field. - Photo via Rowan Today
Two Rowan University students, Sapjah Zapotitla and Mary Okolla, were chosen for the 2025 New Jersey Governor’s STEM Scholars program.
The STEM Scholars program was designed as a way of introducing the brightest high school and college students in the state to the professional world of STEM. The program connects students with STEM experts to teach them about important professional development skills, while also helping them learn about higher education and career pathways in the field. This past year, 111 students, ranging from tenth graders to college graduate students, were selected from throughout all of New Jersey’s 21 counties, including Zapotitla and Okolla.
Zapotitla, a junior psychology major, was nominated for the program by Professor Thomas Keck, and decided to take advantage of the opportunity that sat in front of her.
“I have been very fortunate enough to have a lot of research experience through Rowan, and it’s inspired me to feel that I can be a PhD candidate in the future after I graduate. Being part of the Governor’s STEM Scholars has kind of amplified that if that were the trajectory I wanted to pursue for my career, I would be capable of doing it,” Zapotitla said.
Okolla, a graduate student in cybersecurity at Rowan who has already obtained a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nairobi, didn’t expect much when she first sent in her application, but has since become more confident and prepared to pursue her goals.
“Being a STEM Scholar has helped me uncover strengths I didn’t know I had, like leadership. Working with other talented students has pushed me out of my comfort zone and challenged me in the best ways,” Okolla said.
Since the middle of the fall semester, Zapotitla and Okolla have each been leading their own research team of high school students, who are also involved with the STEM Scholars program. Each research team is tasked with designing a solution to a problem that impacts their community, using a UN sustainability goal as a guidepost.
“Just being a part of their journey feels great, you know? Individually, getting to know them and their different personalities, being able to come together into one now is amazing. It goes to show you that whatever background you come from, whatever interests you have, we can work together,” Zapotitla said.
Zapotitla’s research project revolves around shining a light on student well-being and diving into how students can be impacted by seasonal-affective disorder, while Okolla’s research project looks to address the problem of deer-vehicle collisions near natural habitats with a device integrated with an AI-powered animal detection software.
“I believe this program helps students learn and achieve their career goals by providing hands-on research opportunities, mentorship from STEM professionals, and exposure to real-world applications of science and technology. It inspires us to think critically, collaborate with like-minded individuals, and envision impactful futures in STEM fields,” Okolla said.
For comments/questions about this story DM us on Instagram @thewhitatrowan or email news@thewhitonline.com