Story provided by Meridian Technology Center

Alumni of Meridian Technology Center’s Biomedical Sciences STEM Academy have experienced great success following their time at Tech.  

Carter Dierlam was recently named a Top Ten Freshman at the University of Tulsa. Each year an alumni panel recognizes ten outstanding students for their exceptional achievement in academics and community engagement. Dierlam is studying biochemistry. He is also involved in several campus organizations, including the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, the student association, the Newman Catholic Center and the university’s career readiness initiative. He is also a member of the American Chemical Society. Dierlam graduated from Stillwater High School and Meridian Technology Center in 2020.  

Dierlam is passionate about research, and he has found ample opportunities to get involved, even as a freshman. He is a member of a lab in the chemistry and biochemistry department. He was also a participant of the Tulsa Undergraduate Research Challenge and the Chemistry Summer Undergraduate Research program, a 10-week summer research experience. He hopes to present his research at professional conferences this year.  

The Oklahoma State University chapter of the Mortar Board Honor Society recognized Mejalaa Jayaseelan, a 2020 graduate of the Biomedical Sciences program, as a Top Ten Freshman at OSU. This designation considers scholarship, leadership and service during a student’s first year on campus. The Stillwater student is now in her second year at OSU, where she studies chemical engineering with a focus on pre-med. Jayaseelan was the only student from the OSU College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology to receive this award. 

“Receiving this honor means to me, not only that my hard work is being recognized, but it also amplifies women, just like me, in the STEM field,” Jayaseelan said in a statement to the university. 

Jayaseelan was also selected as a Niblack Research Scholar. This honor includes an $8,000 scholarship and the opportunity to conduct research.  

STEM at Tech 

The STEM Academy encompasses students in the Biomedical Sciences and Pre-Engineering programs. These programs teach students science, technology, engineering and mathematics principles using Project Lead the Way (PLTW) curriculum. PLTW is a national program that provides transformative learning experiences for students and teachers. It focuses on developing problem-solving skills by immersing students in real-world preparatory-level academics. PLTW has recognized Meridian’s STEM Academy’s success, naming it a Distinguished High School Program for the past three years.  

Coursework in the STEM Academy focuses on developing in-demand, transferable skills such as critical and creative thinking, collaboration and communication, ensuring student success no matter their future career pathway. There are 141 students enrolled in the Academy. Students may enroll as a sophomore, junior or senior.  

To learn more about any of Meridian’s career training programs, visit meridiantech.edu/programs.  

Meridian Technology Center has been a driver of economic development since 1975. With a mission to educate, enrich lives and secure economic futures, Meridian offers full-time career training programs, short courses, workforce and economic development assistance and entrepreneurial support to residents from the Agra, Carney, Glencoe, Guthrie, Morrison, Mulhall-Orlando, Pawnee, Perkins-Tryon, Perry and Stillwater school districts. Meridian is one of 29 schools within Oklahoma’s CareerTech system.  

For more information or to enroll visit www.meridiantech.edu or contact a career counselor by phone at (405) 377-3333 or toll-free at (888) 607-2509.