Montwood High School student seizes award-winning opportunities in STEM
The Socorro Independent School District selects an outstanding student to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the monthly Board of Trustees regular meeting. Students chosen for this honor seize the endless opportunities SISD provides to help them excel in the classroom and beyond. Here is how one student is seizing her opportunities in Team SISD.
Mandana Kargar was in third grade when she first competed in the John Drugan School science fair. The aspiring neurosurgeon noticed that most of the competitors were boys and wondered why there weren’t more girls represented.
Now a junior at Montwood High School, Mandana is determined to inspire more young girls to seize opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and show them what is possible.
This January, Mandana and her partner, Tiffany Gavaldon, earned first place in the biomedical and health sciences category at the Socorro Independent School District’s science fair. They are expected to compete at the Sun Country Regional Science and Engineering Fair in February. Their goal is to advance to the state competition this year, just as they did last year.
"It's just so inspirational to see the new hashtag #WomenInSTEM. It's like it pushes little girls to do what they love and to try different things. And like, I was that little girl. And now my goal is to be a role model for other little girls," said Mandana, who is currently ranked second in her class.
In recognition of her outstanding accomplishments, Mandana was selected to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the Socorro ISD Board of Trustees regular meeting in January 2025.
Since childhood, Mandana’s curiosity has always driven her to explore her interests in science, especially its ability to help people. Because of this, she knew from a young age that she wanted to become a doctor.
To pursue her passion, she has participated in science fairs since elementary school, gaining valuable hands-on experience in STEM.
Her most recent project with Gavaldon focused on using carbon quantum dots to protect the brain against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and dementia. Last year’s winning project centered on drug delivery systems.
“The field of medicine interested me because it's such a niche topic. You can choose a topic that's very small, but when you keep researching it, you keep going in-depth, and you won't find the end. And that's what I love about it. Because you always find something new,” Mandana said.
At Montwood High School, Mandana was determined to seize every science-related opportunity that came her way, eager to enhance her knowledge and skills in the field.
During her freshman year, Mandana was accepted into the school's SYNERGI4 STEM program, specializing in biomedical science. Students participate in various STEM-related activities and take core college courses through the SYNERGI4 STEM and P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) Advanced Academy. Mandana, an officer in the program, is on track to earn her associate degree for free from El Paso Community College by next December, preparing her for a successful future in the medical field.
Throughout her journey, she has made many meaningful friendships that have kept her focused and grounded.
“I feel our friendship has supported us through high school in many ways,” said Gavaldon, who met Mandana in sixth grade. They are in the SYNERGI4 STEM program together. “We’ve really just flourished together. Whether it was teaming on an assignment or just being study partners and just enjoying science fair together, we’re really enjoying high school experiences together.”
Mandana is also an officer in Montwood’s HOSA – Future Health Professionals, an international student organization that provides scholars with opportunities to learn about various health professions, develop leadership and technical skills, and test their knowledge in competitive events.
Last year, Mandana and her team advanced to HOSA's regional competition with their project, H.ALO, which aimed to use artificial intelligence to prevent water damage, including corrosion and leaks, in household water pipes.
The same project was also a state finalist in the 2024 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition, a nationwide contest for sixth through 12th grade students.
“These opportunities have definitely made me into a better student, and they have also shaped me as a leader,” Mandana said. “They have definitely prepared me for the real world because I've been able to experience different parts of different career fields that I am interested in, and they've also shown me like the difficulties and the challenges that people may experience in the real world and how to overcome them.”
Mandana attributes her success to her parents and the school’s faculty, including biomedical science teacher Tabatha Schacht, who has guided her, and provided resources and feedback to improve her work. Mandana’s goal is to make it to the national science fair this year.
“If the kids are willing to do it, I'm going to put all my effort into helping them because they can do it,” Schacht said. “So, as long as Mandana puts 110%, then I'll put 110% and that way we can make sure that she achieves her goal.”
Above all, Mandana hopes to make a difference in the world with her science. Her dream is to attend The University of Texas at Austin after she graduates high school in 2026.
“Honestly, it's not like I want to compete to win because life is not all about winning,” Mandana said. “These projects genuinely interest me. Everything that we try for these projects is an innovation and it helps people and that’s ultimately what I want to do.”