Paula McNichols joined ARCS Metro Washington Chapter (ARCS MWC) in 1999 and is a lifetime member. We applaud Paula’s continued commitment to ARCS MWC and her many contributions to the chapter over the past 26 years!
Paula was invited to join ARCS by Gloria Driessnack. Gloria's husband, LTG “Whitey” Driessnack, was on the Board of Directors... Read more
ARCS MWC welcomes new member Ming Ward! Ming joined in January and is sponsored by Chi Pham.
Ming earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and a master’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. She began her career... Read more
ARCS MWC is excited to introduce our newest member, Carolyn Hayward-Williams. She is sponsored by her neighbor and longtime friend Patty Sparrell.
Carolyn has been married to her husband,Terry, for 29 years and they have two daughters. Carolyn is an electrical engineering graduate of Vanderbilt University and John’s Hopkins University, and currently a... Read more
DaVonne Henry – Hesse Endowment Scholar 1st Year Scholar, PhD candidate Physics Georgetown University
Research: Combining single-molecule magnets (SMMs) with graphene nanodevices can lead to high-density data storage or quantum computing applications. Using nanofabrication techniques, I create highly responsive devices that can be used... Read more
Prachi Shah - MWC Chapter Scholar 1st Year Scholar, PhD candidate Biology Georgetown University
Research: Memory and forgetting are highly regulated biological processes fundamental for animal survival in an ever-changing environment. This project aims to understand the neurobiological basis of retrograde amnesia induced by... Read more
Patrick Banner – MWC 55th Anniversary Scholar 1st Year Scholar, PhD candidate Physics University of Maryland
Research: This research spans atomic, optical, and detector physics. The primary research uses strongly interacting atoms to make light and matter interact in ways that can be used... Read more
Washington D.C. (March 2025) – Reach for the stars! The Metro Washington Chapter of the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Foundation (ARCS MWC) will hold its Eagle Celebration at the Army and Navy Club on April 4, 2025 (6-9:30pm), in Washington, DC. ARCS MWC presents this prestigious... Read more
Meet one of ARCS MWC’s newest members, Margaret Hackbarth! Margaret joined in January and is sponsored by Julie Hohl.
Margaret graduated from Bucknell University and received her Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1992. She has lived in the Washington area since law school and... Read more
Akshaya Annapragada – Danaher Foundation Scholar 1st Year Scholar, PhD candidate Biomedical Engineering
Research: There is a great need for accessible and sensitive screening approaches for carcinomas worldwide. This research focuses on novel artificial intelligence approaches to enable new whole genome analyses and enhanced understanding... Read more
Najwa Labban – Danaher Foundation Scholar 1st Year Scholar, PhD candidate, Biomedical Engineering University of Virginia
Research: Most breast cancers are treated with surgery, radiation, and hormone therapy, but not all women respond equally to these therapies. This research uses breast cancer... Read more
