Names of Note: Stanislaus Commission for Women honors six accomplished students
Six students have received Outstanding Young Women awards from the Stanislaus County Commission for Women. The panel also has honored adults over the past 40 years, but COVID-19 interfered with that in 2022, organizers said.
A news release provided details on the young honorees:
Rana Banankhah, Modesto
Rana is a Modesto High School senior and the Interhigh Student Voice Council president. She serves as the student member of Modesto City Schools’ Board of Education and for the California State Board of Education.
Her interest in engineering led her to develop an app to recycle plastic waste into 3D printer filament. She also advocated to restore the Modesto Youth Commission and testified at the state level for legislative issues affecting youth health.
Rana believes that important issues affecting women are the lack of education in many countries and the need for financial literacy education. She thinks our society needs to do more to empower young women to have a strong voice so that more women can advocate for themselves and others.
Rana plans to attend Stanford University to major in public policy and aspires to enter politics or work as an attorney.
Jasmine Cisneros, Turlock
Jasmine is a Turlock High School senior, taking Advance Placement and Modesto Junior College classes. She is president of the Progressive Students Club and vice president of Interact.
Jasmine reported for the Health Occupation Students of America about social inequities in health care. She has worked throughout high school in customer service, using her bilingual skills to help those who do not speak English. She is proud to be a young Mexican-American woman, raised to believe in herself, work hard and be a proactive citizen.
Jasmine believes that women experience barriers to receiving proper health care, education, nutrition, and career and financial opportunities, often having to balance a career and parenting, and that society needs to work together to solve these issues.
She plans to attend a University of California campus and major in chemistry, then go to medical school to become an OB-GYN. She believes it is important to increase the number of Latinas with graduate degrees.
Morgan Haydock, Turlock
Morgan is a biology major at MJC and plans to transfer to UC Davis. She worked with the Valley Improvement Projects and Modesto Peace/Life Center to start Climate Justice Action Now, which involves junior high and elementary school youth in combating climate change.
Morgan volunteered for the Stanislaus Sustainable Communities Coalition to contribute to rewriting Modesto’s general plan. She also volunteered with Rep. Josh Harder’s campaign. She works as an intern at MJC’s Great Valley Museum.
Morgan is concerned about threats to women’s reproductive rights. She also notes that women are still underrepresented in STEM professions and thinks it is important that women have the support and access they need to thrive in scientific careers.
Her ultimate educational goal is to earn a doctorate in cellular biology and work in the field of scientific research and public understanding of the world we live in, such as at a museum, focusing on making scientific knowledge accessible to the public.
Divya Katyal, Modesto
Divya is a senior at Modesto High with extensive volunteer experience who has raised funds for numerous organizations. She provided art therapy classes at the Boys & Girls Club, Maddux Youth Center and the Red Shield Center, where she also taught app development and website design. She serves as the president of MHS Dance Production and mentors younger dancers.
Divya has won first place awards in Science Olympiad and in the Congressional App Challenge. She is a strong advocate for the voices of minority groups who face barriers like gender stereotypes, limited female role models and male-dominated cultures in the STEM field, and that it is imperative to welcome diverse people and perspectives into STEM education.
Divya plans to study computer science in college and use technology to help address the systemic barriers that prevent access to equitable opportunities in STEM, plus provide innovative tools for disadvantaged communities. Her experiences growing up in the Central Valley have shaped her outlook on equity and inclusion. She wants to return here after college and share her knowledge
Madeline Van Diepen, Modesto
The Downey High school senior is president of the school’s Future Business Leaders of America and the Environmental Club. She also is a lifetime California Scholarship federation member, played water polo and basketball and was on the swim team.
Madeline mobilized students to pick up trash along the Tuolumne River and created a food and gift donation program for unhoused students at Downey, many of whom have young children. She also challenged authority figures to provide alternative transportation plans for sports teams during a time of considerable COVID-19 exposure.
Madeline has become more aware of the struggles women face daily, including access to equal opportunities, reproductive and health care rights, motherhood and harassment, which stem from a patriarchal society. She believes having more females in decision-making positions, especially women of color, will benefit all of society, because women “are attuned to the unique challenges and demands in the modern world and will lead with empathy and compassion.”
Madeline plans to attend a four-year university to study business and pursue a career in the financial sector, in order to work for change and equality in that setting.
Makeila Wilson, Modesto
The Enochs High School senior is the founder and president of Women in Gold, a club that teaches girls how to take on leadership roles. She is also vice president of the Mentorship Club, helping younger high school students achieve academic and social success. She played varsity basketball, participated in speech and debate, maintains a 4.1 GPA and works 30 hours a week.
Makeila attributes her strength and perseverance to her mother, who provided her and her sister with an example of a strong and independent woman. She believes that despite immense progress made regarding women’s positions in society, sexism and inequality remain.
The Women in Gold club encourages conversation among young women about negative stereotyping and labels, “… how uncomfortable we sometimes feel in our own skin (being too fat, too skinny, too bossy, not pretty enough, etc.) We need to steer away from harmful labels and start embracing them. Maybe being ‘too bossy’ is a good thing. It’s a woman who is assertive, organized and passionate.”
Makelia plans to attend either UC San Diego, Barnard or Boston University to study urban design and sustainability. Her goal is to reimagine communities and neighborhoods as spaces where everyone can feel safe and welcome.
Names of Note recognizes people and organizations for their contribution to their communities. Submit items to jholland@modbee.com.
