Mira – 2025 Tacoma Region Rising Star

Finding her career path

STEM learning is foundational to how Mira sees the world. She talks about how that learning is shaping her career path.

Nominated for her leadership

“Mira is a stand-out leader, extremely capable and passionate, and wise and articulate far beyond what I’d expect from someone her age. Mira has been joining team and department meetings at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and her contributions have been invaluable. She has superpowers for inclusion and makes her peers feel valued and respected. Mira has already had a tangible impact on her school’s culture. She also interns with the State office and advocates for student needs and environmental justice. Since working with Mira in a more official context, professional colleagues of mine at the zoo have been absolutely blown away by her passion and capabilities. Mira has changed minds of adults—”I never knew a teen could be so well spoken”—and individually contributed to positive cultural shifts in the zoo and school partnership. Mira balances her skills and passions for working with people along with her commitment to wildlife and environmental justice. Mira is a high achieving student, highly effective campus leader, and major contributor to positive change in the relationship between the zoo and the school.

Mira is a transformational young leader whose rare blend of wisdom, empathy, and action has already shifted culture, built bridges, and inspired change across both our zoo and school communities.”

—Mira’s mentor
 

The Washington STEM Rising Star Awards encourage young women and trans and nonbinary youth to embrace STEM learning in ways that will support their education, career, and community.

Meet all of the 2025 Washington STEM Rising Stars!