Schools
Palos Verdes Student Among LA-Area Scholarship Recipients
Abigail Maemoto was recognized for her humanitarian work and efforts in STEM.
![The student is one of 11 area Milken Scholars.](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/shutterstock/22969719/20210629/042905/styles/patch_image/public/shutterstock-1024046593___29152406851.jpg)
PALOS VERDES, CA — One Palos Verdes student is among 11 Los Angeles-area scholars to receive a $10,000 scholarship for her work in STEM.
In a news release, Milken Scholars — which awards scholarships to college-bound students from Washington, D.C., New York and Los Angeles — said Abigail Maemoto of Palos Verdes is among the winners.
When Maemoto's assistant principal at Palos Verdes High School was diagnosed with leukemia, the student launched a community effort to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
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Maemoto organized a cancer walk, complete with corporate sponsors, and brought in $85,000.
According to the release, she also founded BiomediGirls, a student-run organization aimed at ending gender and socioeconomic disparities in science.
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The organization helps pair students with free online courses and scholarships to participate in research internships.
As it stands, BiomediGirls now offers a newsletter and a podcast and has branches in 20 schools across the country and abroad.
Maemoto also used proceeds from her self-published childrens book, "What is so Special About an Unspecialized Cell" to fund six scholarships for students from low-income communities to attend a stem cell research program, Milken Scholars said.
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