Aurora Women In STEM Exhibit

In 2016, the Aurora History Museum had a local Women in STEM exhibit, and they chose to include me. Here is a picture of my entry.

I was surprised when they reposted my bio this month on Instagram and Facebook. I only found out about it because one of my friends saw it. It's crazy to think that someone else is posting about me on Instagram, but also very nice. I keep waiting for them to post more women, so it's not just me.

It was posted eight years after it was written, and a lot has happened since then. It's a very nice summary of my career, except that my first job was at Highland High School, teaching science between graduation and Overland.

If the post ever disappears, here's what it says:

Have you heard of Kate McDonnell? She has dedicated her career to teaching the next generation of scientists. She graduated from the International Baccalaureate program at Smoky Hill High School before becoming the first female to earn a Computer Engineering degree from Colorado State University (CSU). McDonnell received her Master’s in Education and became the first graduate of CSU’s Engineering Education program. This program gave her a strong foundation in science, mathematics and engineering, in addition to teacher training. Even as a student, her professors saw her potential to serve as a positive influence for young female students who often lack role models in the fields of science. Upon graduation, McDonnell accepted a position as a STEM teacher at Overland High School in Aurora. Currently, she teaches four levels of Computer Science courses and Introduction to Robotics. She is extremely proud of her role as teacher and sponsor of the school’s robotics team, the Overland BlazerBots. It is a diverse and inclusive group of students, with females representing one-third of the team and many participating in leadership roles. Comment the names of other local women who contribute to STEM!