Alena Analeigh McQuarter
Born (2008-11-19) November 19, 2008 (age 15)
Fontana, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationStudent

Alena Analeigh (Wicker) McQuarter (born November 19, 2008) is an American student who is the youngest Black person to be accepted into medical school in the United States,[1][2][3] and the second-youngest person to be accepted into medical school overall.[4] She is also the youngest person ever to work as an intern at NASA.[5][3][6]

Personal life

Wicker was born in Fontana, California,[2] and grew up outside of Fort Worth, Texas. Her mother is Daphne McQuarter,[7] and she has two sisters.[6]

Wicker began reading chapter books when she was three years old,[6] and developed a love for Lego the following year.[8] In elementary school, she was bullied for her intelligence,[1] and her principal said she "couldn't get all A's because of [her] skin color".[8] Shortly after, McQuarter opted to homeschool her, though Wicker returned to school in fifth grade, continuing an advanced curriculum to complete high school requirements.[3]

She spent time living abroad in Amman, Jordan, which inspired her to learn Arabic and Spanish.[7]

Education

Wicker graduated from her high school near Fort Worth, Texas at age 12,[1] after which she began attending Arizona State University.[9][5][10] She initially double-majored in astronomical and planetary science and chemistry, hoping to one day be a NASA engineer.[7][11] After a trip to Jordan with the Brown STEM Girl foundation, she became interested in viral immunology and switched her major to pre-med.[2]

On May 13, 2022, the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Heersink School of Medicine offered Wicker admission in 2024 through the school's Burroughs Wellcome Scholars Early Assurance Program, "which partners with several Black schools in Alabama to offer students early acceptance as they plan to enter medical school."[2] She accepted the offer later that summer.

Career

While completing high school, Wicker "noticed the racial and gender disparities in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields," which led her to develop the Brown STEM Girl (BSG) website.[7] She imagined using BSG to "create this culture of Brown girls in STEM."[7] She developed a business plan and contacted business people to get the foundation started.[7] BSG provides scholarships, mentorships, internships, and other support to girls of color pursuing education in STEM.[12][8] BSG also offers opportunities for girls of color to study abroad in Singapore. Wicker founded Dorm Room Makeover™ as part of her First Year College Initiative for first year girls of color majoring in STEM Fields.

In 2021, Wicker became the youngest person to intern for NASA.[5][3] There, she "worked on various assignments including remote research for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California."[3]

On July 28, 2022, Wicker appeared on Good Morning America to discuss her early acceptance into medical school and to offer advice to other young people.[13][14]

Awards and honors

Because of Wicker's work, multiple mayors have proclaimed April 30 "Brown STEM Girl STEM in the City Day Honoring Women of Color in STEM."[15] The governor of Texas has also included a proclamation.[15]

She is an Ambassador for Saving Our Daughters/Keke Palmer Foundation.[citation needed]

Year Sponsor Award/honor Result Ref.
2021 Forbes 30 Under 30 Nominee [5]
2022 TIME and Nickelodeon Kid of the Year Finalist [16]
2022 Global Child Prodigy Awards World in Science Recipient [17]
2022 United States of America President’s Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient [18]
2022 Ebony HBCU STEM Queen Recipient [19]

References

  1. ^ a b c Southern, Keiran (July 21, 2022). "Bullied girl, 13, wins a place at medical school". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Grove, Rashad (July 11, 2022). "EBONY HBCU STEM Queen Alena Analeigh Wicker Becomes Youngest Black Person to Ever be Accepted Into Medical School • EBONY". EBONY. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e Diaz, Adriana (July 20, 2022). "Girl, 13, is youngest black student accepted to medical school: 'What is age?'". New York Post. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  4. ^ Steinbach, Alison. "She started college at ASU when she was 12. Now 13, she's already accepted to medical school". USA TODAY. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d Andre (December 31, 2021). "Meet phenomenal 13-year-old college student NASA's youngest intern". The Baltimore Times Online Newspaper. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Page, Sydney (July 20, 2022). "She got accepted into medical school. She's 13". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Azari, Aryana (April 12, 2021). "This 12-year-old genius has her sights set on becoming a NASA engineer". Good Morning America. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  8. ^ a b c Lockett, Phyllis. "Reimagining Learning: An Interview With Alena Analeigh, The Brown STEM Girl". Forbes. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  9. ^ Medina, Wendy. "13-Year-Old Makes History as Youngest Black Person to Get Accepted Into Medical School". Entrepreneur. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  10. ^ Charles, Niala (July 6, 2022). "'I want to leave my mark on the world': 13-year-old girl gets accepted into medical school". MSN. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  11. ^ "Good News: 12-Year-Old Alena Wicker Is Starting College This Summer". LIVE with Kelly and Ryan. March 24, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  12. ^ NBC News (May 13, 2021). "12-Year-Old Heads To College With Goal To Change STEM". YouTube. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  13. ^ Kindelan, Katie; Acquavella, Alyssa (July 28, 2022). "13-year-old girl going to medical school shares advice for other kids". Good Morning America. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  14. ^ "13-year-old speaks out about getting accepted into medical school". Good Morning America. July 28, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  15. ^ a b "Downtown Tempe celebrates Arizona Excellence Through Appointment of Grand Parade Marshals". Downtown Tempe. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  16. ^ "Meet TIME's Top Kid of the Year Finalists". Time. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  17. ^ "Meet the 13-Year-Old Accepted to UAB Medical School". The Birmingham Times. July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  18. ^ "13-year-old accepted into medical school". Good Morning America. July 28, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  19. ^ "HBCU STEM Queens". Ebony. Retrieved December 15, 2022.

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