Lidya Demilew

SIP Member Since 2017
Yale

Computer Science
Class of  2025

Skills & Highlights:
  • Public Speaking
  • Project Management
  • Programming
View Resume
Resume Summary:

Self-motivated freshman computer science major with 5+ years of practical experience in creating and delivering innovative STEM seminars to adult educators and MS/HS students. Technical proficiencies include Java and Python. Creative problem solver with proven project management and team-oriented skills.

Achievements

Certifications

  • 2020 IBM AI Foundations for Educators

Awards & Scholarships

  • 2021 Coca-Cola Scholarship
  • 2021 Visa Black Scholars and Job Program
  • 2021 Onuoha Fellowship
  • 2021 Amazon Web Services InCommunities Scholarship
  • 2021 Burger King Scholars
  • 2021 College Board Opportunity Scholarship
  • 2021 Lake Braddock Secondary School PTSA Scholarship
  • 2021 VA Council on Women STEAM-H Essay Contest
  • 2021 NCWIT Impact Award
  • 2020-2021 NCWIT Aspirations In Computing Award
  • 2021-Current Ron Brown Scholarship Program Captain
  • 2020 Columbia Engineering Experience

Competitions

  • 2019 SWENext Design Lab Community Engagement Challenge
  • 2019 HackBI Hackathon
  • 2019 Technia Hackathon
  • 2018 INTEL ISEF Science Fair
  • 2017 Robert H. Herndon Memorial Science Competition, Investigating Flint

Presentations & Speaking

  • 2020 Maret Independent School STEM Conference
  • 2021 ITEEA
  • 2020 HackSIP Panelist
  • 2018 JOSTI

Experience

  • 2018-2019 iSchool For the Future: Intern: Seed money fundraising, social media research
  • 2021 Google CSSI: Html/CSS/JS, databases and web development

Bio

Lidya is a freshman at Yale University studying Computer Science and Economics. She first found her passion for STEM through her work with the STEM Impressionists Program starting in 8th grade. With the mission to support girls, she honed her STEM skills in the program and turned her academic classes into hands-on community service projects. She judged robotics competitions, worked as a project manager for several STEM projects for underrepresented students and developed STEM curriculum and educator skills as she taught STEM to teachers and students alike.

In addition, she also presented at national conferences like the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA). These efforts allowed her to be recognized as a state winner by the National Center for Women In Technology (NCWIT) and the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. Lidya is also a Ron Brown Captain and a Visa Black Scholars and Jobs Program Scholar. As a board member with the STEM Impressionists (SIP). At Yale, Lidya is continuing her work in shaping the role of women of color in technology and finance.

What SIP Means to Me

“Are you interested in writing a research paper for a science competition?” A teacher I’ve never met asks me. Winning that competition taught me the payoff of taking risks, of saying “yes”. I joined SIP immediately after that. Growing up a girly girl, I never felt comfortable pursuing technology classes or activities. Mx. DeHart helped me find my inner engineer as I discovered my passion for computer science. It wasn’t just for boys, it was for me.

Since I joined, I chose SIP everyday when I committed my weekends planning an engineering workshop for 5th grade students in our community, when I designed curriculum for a computer science camp I helped teach at and when I interned for a startup company where Mx. DeHart taught me the importance of building the right company culture. Every step of the way, she made sure I wasn’t alone. Providing me with resources to learn how to show up as my best self, Mx. DeHart made sure I was prepared for every endeavor I embarked on.

When I was applying to my dream school, I was drowning in imposter syndrome. The writing process was hard and she spent weeks giving me feedback on every draft I wrote. She not only knew about my experiences, she knew me too. Mx. DeHart has been through all the ups and downs of my life since we met in middle school. She helped me show up in my writing as my most authentic self. Without her help, I wouldn’t be joining Yale’s class of 2025 next fall.

Her commitment to my excellence has propelled me from the studious girl I was into the trailblazer I’m becoming. She invested countless hours of counsel in me. In turn, I give back everything I learn through SIP, back to students who look like me. Her mentorship changed my life. Her devotion to me has guided me in establishing a vision for my future and my contribution to the world.