Antonia Schierling (Toni) has been a member of ARCS Metro Washington Chapter (ARCS MWC) since 1992. We applaud Toni’s continued commitment to ARCS MWC and her many contributions to the chapter over the past 33 years, especially her participation in so many leadership roles on the Board!

Toni was sponsored by Joan Jordano. Joan was already an active ARCS MWC member at that time and had been asking Toni to join for several years but Toni was busy bringing up her kids and traveling. But once she learned that the chapter needed someone to help Molly Church, the chapter’s Treasurer, Toni immediately volunteered. Toni and Molly first kept the books by hand and then transitioned to QuickBooks®—and Toni wasn’t even a member yet! While working with Molly, Toni also got to know the other wonderful ladies of ARCS MWC and, when they asked her to join, she agreed because she liked the camaraderie she found with a visionary group of women dedicated to outreach and education and she was very impressed with the ARCS mission. 

During her time with ARCS MWC, Toni has been a member of all the Councils and financial committees and served as chapter President during 2006-08. She was also named an ARCS Angel and an ARCS Light because of her service and leadership to the chapter! She found it so rewarding to see the progress and successes of the scholars. In one case, when Toni interviewed a scholar, he told her that receiving the ARCS award set him up for receiving more rewards. Toni said it was almost euphoric seeing such wonderful and meaningful results of the ARCS award. 

One of her greatest achievements as President of the chapter was setting up a luncheon for scholar networking at a local country club and identifying donations to underwrite it. The scholars really enjoyed meeting each other, networking, and exchanging notes on their research. The event was very meaningful to the scholars because they were all at similar stages in their educational journey. 

When asked what would she say to the ARCS MWC membership, especially the newer members, Toni immediately replied: “Kindness is contagious!” She added that it was so compelling to create a ripple effect of giving and generosity that, in turn, fosters a culture of empathy and connection in a world filled with so much self-interest. Toni said that it is powerful to believe that someone else has potential because that mindset opens doors to students that might otherwise have remained closed. As we support our amazing scholars, we are empowering the next generation of innovators and changemakers and furthering significant advances in U.S. science and engineering!