Jessica Caruso, a senior in Notre Dame’s upper school, earned a $10,000 scholarship from social-justice organization DoSomething.org.
DoSomething.org is one of the largest nonprofits for young people and social change, with 3.3 million members "who tackle campaigns that impact every cause, from poverty to violence to the environment to literally everything else," according to DoSomething.org.
In Caruso’s case, she participated in a mobile app called "Science Sleuth,” which involved a game and scavenger hunt that promoted STEM education (science, technology, engineering and math) for girls. A key part of the game was that once tasks were completed, donations were made to a designated charity.
From DoSomething.org: “Girls start out loving science as much as boys do, but by middle school, they are only half as interested in the subject. One of the best ways to get girls loving — and kicking butt at — science is to show them what pro scientists actually do. [Participants] use science to solve a text-message mystery on their phones, and those who played unlocked real donations to classrooms in need through DonorsChoose. Talk about saving the day!”
Caruso was picked out of 92,986 members in the United States and Canada who participated in the Science Sleuth game.
Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.