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Johns Hopkins APL STEM Programs Help Scholarship Winner Excel in Engineering
Sean Kim was awarded the $8,000 APL STEM scholarship, which is presented to a high school senior who has participated in two or more APL STEM programs.
Credit: Johns Hopkins APL/Brooke Hammack
Sean Kim was selected as the 2024 STEM scholarship winner at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland.
The $8,000 scholarship is awarded to a high school senior who has participated in two or more APL STEM programs. Kim, who recently graduated from Reservoir High School in Fulton, Maryland, participated in several APL programs, including STEM Academy and multiple ASPIRE internship placements. These experiences fostered his interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and helped him develop valuable technical skills.
Reflecting on his time with APL, Kim said, “As someone who first learned technical programming, engineering skills and professional communication at APL, I can genuinely attest to the Lab’s developmental influence. Since my initial enrollment in the Python I and Design Thinking classes in middle school, APL taught me how to translate human empathy into impactful prototypes.”
One project Kim was excited to work on involved researching wireless communications and wave propagation. Under the mentorship of APL engineer Brian Choi, Kim proposed a novel geolocation algorithm that incorporates simultaneous localization and mapping with emerging 5G radio technologies. Kim presented his research at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Integrated STEM Education Conference.
Kim is continuing his education at Princeton University, where he is studying electrical and computer engineering.
“I’m excited to explore interdisciplinary internships that leverage robotics to positively impact the communities around me,” Kim said. “After college, I intend to pursue a master’s degree in mechanical, electrical or mechatronics engineering.”
Kim expressed his gratitude to the staff members who run APL’s STEM programs, saying, “APL programs are able to put a spark in young people that doesn’t demand, but instead guides their interest in various STEM fields that would otherwise be unknown to them.”