Bio Nebraska and the Bio Nebraska Foundation, together with Marylinn Munson, announced the recipients of the Marylinn Munson & Bio Nebraska STEM Scholarship for Nebraska high school students as they pursue relevant classroom study and professional experiences in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)-related fields. Scholarship recipients will each receive $2,500 in awards to be used towards tuition for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Bio Nebraska & Marylinn Munson STEM Scholarship Recipients
- Owen Dickes, Gretna, Nebraska, will be attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Molly Kaldahl, Omaha, Nebraska, will be attending the University of Nebraska at Omaha
“It’s an honor to continue supporting the mission to empower the next generation of STEM leaders,” said Marylinn Munson, a biotechnology professional. “Fostering curiosity and innovation in scholars isn’t just a passion — it’s a long-term commitment to a more resilient, forward-thinking future.”
The scholarship was open to Nebraska high school seniors who plan to study a STEM-related field at a Bio Nebraska-approved college, community college, or university in Nebraska. Applicants must also intend to pursue a career within a STEM-focused industry.
“These scholarships are about investing in the next generation of innovators who will shape Nebraska’s future,” said Rob Owen, Executive Director of Bio Nebraska. “We’re proud to support students pursuing STEM education and careers because developing homegrown talent is essential to strengthening our state’s bioscience community for years to come.”
About Marylinn Munson
Marylinn Munson has more than 20 years of leadership experience in the life sciences, biotechnology, and agriculture industries. She currently serves on Bio’s Board of Directors and provides executive coaching. She has held leadership roles at leading biotechnology and life sciences companies, including Neogen, Qiagen, Illumina, Agilent, and Amersham (GE Healthcare). Her experience spans genomics, global operations, business development, marketing, and sales, including supporting technologies used in the Human Genome Project. She is the recipient of numerous industry honors, including the Federal Labs Consortium Award for Technology Transfer, and is listed as an inventor on U.S. patents.
About the Bio Nebraska Foundation
The Bio Nebraska Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization focused on workforce development and education affiliated with Bio Nebraska. The Foundation aims to aid in the development of a highly educated and diverse Nebraska workforce by providing scholarships to Nebraska students and educational programming for professionals interested in advancing their careers in biosciences. Bio Nebraska is a nonprofit trade association tasked with supporting, promoting, and catalyzing the biosciences in Nebraska.
About Bio Nebraska
Founded in 2005, Bio Nebraska is a non-profit trade association dedicated to supporting and promoting Nebraska’s bioscience sector and ensuring the sector grows and thrives. Bio Nebraska is the only organization in the state representing over 100 bio-related entities in the human health, animal health, agriculture, renewable fuels and biomanufacturing sectors, as well as educational institutions and service providers.