The 55th annual ARCS MWC Scholar Awards Reception (SAR) on Oct 17 was a stellar event! Held once again in the inspiring Great Hall of the National Academy of Sciences, the event celebrated and honored the twenty-one 2024-25 MWC Scholars. The Scholars first attended a pre-reception generously underwritten by the University of Virginia and networked with each other and with past ARCS Scholar Alums! Then, over 100 enthusiastic attendees—members, family, friends, donors, Scholar Alums, and our university partners—attended the event reception and poster session, exploring the cutting edge research being conducted by each ARCS MWC Scholar. 

A special welcome was given to the large group of Wakefield High School attendees, hosted by Charlotte Knight and our newest MWC member, Hilary Sparrell, a Physics teacher at Wakefield. We envision a day when we’ll all be applauding them as ARCS Scholars in the future!

Dr. Kunal Parikh, MWC Scholar Alum, was the 2024 SAR keynote speaker. Dr. Parikh is an Assistant Professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the divisions of Glaucoma and Nanomedicine at the Wilmer Eye Institute and in the Center for Bioengineering Innovation & Design in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. His lab has a specific focus on the elimination of avoidable blindness globally and has partnered with the world’s largest eye care systems to systematically identify major, unmet eye care needs; develop solutions tailored to the needs of patients and providers; and distribute impactful innovations in an affordable and accessible manner. 

Dr. Parikh gave an insightful and enthralling presentation illustrating how he used his ARCS MWC/Roche funding to focus on giving back to underserved populations, and he encouraged the Scholars to always make a difference in their lives and in their work. 

Special thanks are given to Jane Riddle, Chair of the ARCS MWC SAR Committee, and her enthusiastic team: Sarah Doverspike, Miriam Erickson, Karen Finkbiner, Michelle Francis, Julie Hohl, Karen Magley, Elli Nesbitt, Melissa Rhoads-Simpson, Mary Jo Ruane, Patty Sparrell, Anne Wingo and Lubna Zahir!