Sky Harper
Sky Harper is an Indigenous Diné (Navajo) Scholar and Advocate, aspiring to become a physician-scientist. He grew up on the Navajo Reservation in Chinle, Arizona and has garnered International and National recognition through his STEM pursuits and dedication to helping Indigenous communities. He studies Chemistry with a biochemistry concentration, biology minor, and interdisciplinary problem-solving minor.
High School Academics
Sky attended Navajo Preparatory School in Farmington, New Mexico from 2016 to 2020. He graduated as class Valedictorian and Student Body President.[1] During his time at Navajo Preparatory School, Sky was involved in Student Government, Science Enrichment Program, Writing Enrichment Program, Evolvement New Mexico, and MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement).[2][3]
Within Science, Sky participated in Science Olympiad, the Lexus Eco Challenge, and conducted individual research in both participant and leadership roles.[4][5] Through his individual research projects, Sky advanced to the International Science and Engineering Fair three times.[6] His first qualifying project was titled "Lunar Origin: Is it Really Made of Cheese?" He investigated the chemical composition of a terrestrial basalt and compared it to databases that held meteorite and lunar sample data. ISEF was held in Pittsburgh, PA in 2018, the first year he attended.[7] In 2019, ISEF was held in Phoenix, AZ, and Sky's project was titled "Novel Artificial Synthesis of Sugars from Non-organic Compounds for Renewable Cellular Energy".[8] For this project, Sky created a reactor apparatus to create sugar from water and CO2, using electricity as the energy source.[8] In 2020, ISEF was held virtually, and Sky's project was titled "Primordial Soup: Testing the Catalytic Properties of Clays on the Production of Different Biomolecules".[9] In this project, he recreated the primordial earth conditions within a reaction and tested for biomolecules using spectrophotometry.[9] At the 2019 ISEF, Sky was awarded a Full Tuition Scholarship to Drexel University - valued at $200,000.[8][10]
With these individual projects and team-based projects, Sky presented posters at the American Indian Science and Engineering Society in 2018, 2019, and 2020.[11][12] Sky was also awarded 2018 New Mexico STEM Student of the Year by the Airforce Research Laboratories, and 2019 Arizona Future Innovator of the Year by the Arizona Tech Council.[13][14]
Sky then graduated in 2020 from Navajo Prep, and proceeded to pursue a BS in Chemistry at Drexel University
Undergraduate Academics
The summer of 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sky participated in a remote summer internship with the United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Services - Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. He worked with Dr. Christopher Clarke on a project titled "identification of Endolysin and Glycosyl Hydrolase Family 25 Proteins in Streptomyces".[15]
When classes started at Drexel, Sky enrolled as a chemistry student and took classes at the height of the pandemic. He remained involved through remote events held by the institution. During the summer of 2021, Sky took part in the STAR (Students Tackling Advanced Research) program, hosted by the Pennoni Honors College - Undergraduate Research and Enrichment Programs Office.[16] He conducted research with Dr. Frank Ji in the chemistry department, titled "Bulk Polymerization of Acrylic Acid Using Dielectric-Barrier Discharge Plasma in Mesoporous Material", which was published in 2023.[17]
Starting his sophomore year, Sky founded DISA (Drexel Indigenous Students of the Americas), the first Indigenous-serving organization on his campus. He held different events such as a Candid Conversation centered around the Preservation of Indigenous Heritage in a Modern World.[18] Along with that, he was selected as a Goldwater Foundation Fellowship Nominee and Udall Foundation Fellowship Nominee, both of which he was awarded.[19][20] The Goldwater Scholarship recognizes 400 undergraduates in science, math, and engineering fields across the United States, planning to pursue research careers and provides funding for undergraduate study.[20] The Udall is awarded to 50 students committed to careers related to the environment, tribal public policy, or Native American healthcare. Sky is Drexel’s first-ever nominee and recipient in the field of Native American healthcare.
During his Junior Year, Sky hosted the first Indigenous People's Day Celebration at Drexel University.[21] During this year, he was selected as a Harry S. Truman Foundation nominee and Udall Foundation Nominee. He was awarded the Truman Foundation Fellowship and honorable mention for the Udall Fellowship.[22] Sky Harper is Drexel's Second ever Truman Scholar and first "Triple Crown" awardee.[22]
In 2023, Harper was selected as 1 of 11 American Indian College Fund Student Ambassadors, where he attended a 5-day training in Denver, CO to be trained in leadership and communication to create greater visibility of Native Americans and generate an understanding of the importance of their diverse culture.[23]
References
- ↑ https://navajoprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/29_Minutes-2019-09-26.pdf
- ↑ "New Mexico MESA » NM MESA to Award $113,239 to 2020 Graduating Seniors for Loyalty Award". www.nmmesa.org. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
- ↑ "Evolvement". Evolvement. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
- ↑ Petersen, Megan. "Navajo Prep students compete in final round of Lexus Eco Challenge". Daily Times. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
- ↑ Petersen, Megan. "Navajo Prep students earn $35k in scholarships". Daily Times. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
- ↑ "Abstract Search Utility". abstracts.societyforscience.org. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
- ↑ "Full Abstract". abstracts.societyforscience.org. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Full Abstract". abstracts.societyforscience.org. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Full Abstract". abstracts.societyforscience.org. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
- ↑ "Pauly Denetclaw, Author at Navajo Times - Page 5 of 37". Navajo Times. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
- ↑ "Archived Copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-07-25. Retrieved 2023-11-06.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
- ↑ https://www.aises.org/sites/default/files/2019-AISES-AnnualReport.pdf
- ↑ Smith, Noel Lyn. "Navajo Prep student, NTEC honored for STEM work". Daily Times. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
- ↑ "Winners and Finalists for the 2019 Governor's Celebration of Innovation Awards Announced by Arizona Technology Council and Arizona Commerce Authority". Arizona Technology Council. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
- ↑ https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUSERFILES/80600500/IMAGES/NEA%20INTERNS/HARPERMAY21POSTER.PDF
- ↑ "Sky Harper". Pennoni Honors College. 2023-05-18. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
- ↑ Mieles, Matthew; Harper, Sky; Ji, Hai-Feng (January 2023). "Bulk Polymerization of Acrylic Acid Using Dielectric-Barrier Discharge Plasma in a Mesoporous Material". Polymers. 15 (13): 2965. doi:10.3390/polym15132965. ISSN 2073-4360. PMC 10346341 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 37447610 Check|pmid=value (help). - ↑ "Candid Conversations: Preserving Indigenous Heritage in a Modern World". Office of the Provost. 2015-07-15. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
- ↑ "Sky's the Limit". Pennoni Honors College. 2022-05-17. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 https://goldwaterscholarship.gov/2022-goldwater-scholars-by-legal-state-of-residence/
- ↑ Ruka, Kejsi (2022-10-14). "DISA hosts first Drexel Indigenous Peoples' Day celebration". The Triangle. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Sky Harper Becomes Drexel's Second-Ever Truman Scholar, First-Ever Triple Crown". drexel.edu. 2023-04-12. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
- ↑ Fund, College (2023-08-29). "The American Indian College Fund Announces 2023-24 Student Ambassadors | American Indian College Fund". Retrieved 2023-09-01.
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