LAHS Junior Jane Mocko receives the Rensselaer medal for 2024 as well as a Society of Women Engineers Certificate of Merit. Celebrating with her are Physics Teacher Debbie Grothaus, Chemistry Teacher Michela Ombelli, Principal Renee Dunwoody, Math Teacher Ethan Honnell, Biology Teacher Stephanie Mitchell and Math Teacher Stephanie Abney. Courtesy/LAPS
LAHS Principal Renee Dunwoody presents the Rensselaer award to junior Jane Mocko for her accomplishments in math and science. Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS News:
Los Alamos High School Junior Jane Mocko has been selected to receive the 2024 Rensselaer Polytechnic Medal. She was nominated for this honor by the LAHS Mathematics and Science Departments.
Mocko was also selected by the schools staff to receive a Society of Women Engineers Certificate of Merit. This certificate is awarded to young women completing their junior year who demonstrate achievements in math and science, their character, and a desire for a future career in Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Math (STEM).
“What I love the most about Jane is her incredible enthusiasm for anything related to STEM,” LAHS Physics Teacher Debbie Grothaus said. “She is very talented and intelligent, but she is also one of those rare students who put in their very best effort in everything they do. We can’t wait to see what Jane accomplishes in STEM.”
For more than 100 years, Rensselaer, in conjunction with high schools around the world, has awarded the Rensselaer Medal to promising secondary school students who have distinguished themselves in mathematics and science.
The Medal was first presented in 1916 with two purposes:
- To recognize the superlative academic achievement of young men and women; and
- To motivate students toward careers in science, engineering and technology.
Jane has completed Advanced Placement courses in Calculus, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. She plays the violin with LAHS Symphonic Strings and dances ballet, flamenco, modern and tap at Dance Arts Los Alamos (DALA), and is a student mentor for the younger dancers at DALA, helping out with some of their classes and during performances.
Jane is the daughter of Michael and Veronika Mocko.
Each year, participating high schools nominate one outstanding math and science student in the junior class to be honored with the Rensselaer Medal Award. If the student applies to Rensselaer, is accepted, and enrolls, the official Rensselaer Medallion will be presented in the fall of the first year at Rensselaer.
The merit scholarship, with a value of $40,000 per year, is guaranteed for four years for each Medalist who is accepted and enrolls at Rensselaer.