Physics Illinois sophomore Stephanie Lona was awarded the American Physical Society’s Scholarship for Minority Undergraduate Physics Majors for the 2012-13 academic year. A native of Bollingsbrook, IL, Lona graduated from Nequau Valley High School in Naperville, IL. Her interest in math and science started even earlier, in elementary school, and has never since waned.
But it was Lona’s high school physics course that most fed her fascination with the way things work and the universe. It was in this course that she first realized she wanted a career in physics.
“At this point in my life, it’s nice to know what I’m passionate about. I just love physics!” she said.
Physics and math go hand in hand: Lona’s favorite Illinois class to date was Calculus 3 with Professor Nathan Dunfield, because “he made the math so elegant.”
“I love calculus,” said Lona, “and people give me the strangest looks when I say that. In Physics, you use a lot of calculus, and it’s also really conceptual, too.”
Lona recently transferred from the physics curriculum path in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences into that of the College of Engineering, with plans to choose a professional concentration within her major. Lona’s ultimate goal is to work as a researcher at Fermilab or Argonne National Laboratory. In this, Lona said she was influenced by a visit she made to Fermilab this past summer.
“It was amazing. I took my little brother, Andy, with me—he’s going to be a sophomore in high school this year—and he was inspired, too. He’s also really good at science and math,” said Lona.
Lona is looking forward to gaining research experience this year working in the high energy physics lab of Professor George Gollin.
It’s early days yet, but Lona has already set her sights on graduate school; she plans to apply to programs at the University of Chicago, UC Berkeley, and Illinois.
Lona is an active member and secretary of the campus chapter of the Society of Women in Physics, and an active member of the campus chapter of the Society of Women Engineers. She also participates in the Flippin’ Illini Gymnastics Club, competing in the balance beam and floor exercise.
“I’m glad this is where I chose to go to college. In my opinion, it’s the best school with the best atmosphere—there are so many things to do and ways to get involved,” said Lona.
Lona, a second-time recipient of the scholarship, is one of 39 students nationwide to be selected for the APS Minority Scholarship this year. Past recipients at Physics Illinois include Ricardo Rojas (BS Physics 2001, PhD Mathematics, 2008) and Max Menchaca (BS Physics 2011). The scholarship is part of an APS initiative launched in 1980 to increase the number of students from under-represented groups who obtain bachelor’s degrees in physics.
”I am honored and thankful to have been given this award for a second year,” said Lona.