Lily K. Donaldson Explained

Lily K. Donaldson
Miss United States 2022
Miss New York US 2022
Miss Tennessee US 2021
Nationalcompetition:Miss United States 2022
(Winner)
Birth Name:Lily K. Donaldson
Birth Place:Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S
Occupation:Ph.D. Candidate
Birth Date:September 17, 1999
Eye Color:Brown
Hair Color:Strawberry Blonde
Years Active:2021–present
Education:American University (BS)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (MS)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (PhD) (current)
Website:lilykdonaldson.com

Lily K. Donaldson (born September 17, 1999) is an American advocate for STEM and Arts education for disadvantaged K-12 students.[1] [2] She was crowned Miss United States 2022 with a charitable platform to promote arts and science education.[3] She is the first Miss United States to visit all 50 U.S. states during her reign.[4]

Donaldson was crowned Miss United States 2022 in her hometown (Memphis, Tennessee) on October 16, 2022.

Early life and education

Donaldson was born in Indianapolis, Indiana and grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. She has a twin sister named Cara.[5] She attended McCordsville Elementary School in Indianapolis,[6] Newburgh Elementary School in Newburgh, Indiana,[7] [8] Bon Lin Middle School in Bartlett, Tennessee,[9] and Bolton High School, a Title 1 school part of the Memphis-Shelby County school district which had defunded arts programs and a 95% math proficiency fail rate.[10] Donaldson participated in student theatre and student journalism programs[11] [12] while growing up. She participated in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Donaldson is a first-generation college student.[13]

Donaldson is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute studying controlled environment agriculture[14] within a School of Architecture Built Ecologies program.[15] Donaldson has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from American University and a Master of Science in Lighting from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.[16] While at American University, she worked in vision scientist Arthur Shapiro's lab.

STEM and Arts Education Advocacy

Donaldson directs a nonprofit based in Memphis, Tennessee called Art Technically which promotes STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and Arts education for disadvantaged students at Title 1 and rural K-12 schools.[17] She was inspired to found Art Technically after attending Title 1 schools with underserved arts and science programs.[18] Art Technically provides disadvantaged K-12 students with free STEM and Arts workshops (include a workshop on Astrobotany),[19] free STEM and STEAM books, STEM and Arts themed toy donations including teddy bears in scientist costumes, or "Science Bears",[20] [21] and a program called Love Letters, where students learn to code Valentine's Day cards for Meals on Wheels programs. Art Technically also hosted a science-journalism program for students funded by Society for Science in 2022.

In 2022, Donaldson guest-wrote an article about her work with Art Technically for the U.S. Department of Education. In 2023, Donaldson led an ISS Downlink with NASA where students at Brighton Elementary School in Tipton County, Tennessee asked questions to astronauts aboard the International Space Station.[22] [23] [24] In 2024, Donaldson gave a keynote on the importance of STEM education at the AI Expo for National Competitiveness in Washington, DC.[18]

Civil Service

While she was an undergraduate student at American University, Donaldson worked for the United States Department of Homeland Security as a Student Trainee, under grant from the NASA DC Space Grant Consortium,[25] and on a capstone project with the United States Department of Energy.

In 2023, Donaldson became a research assistant at NASA's Climate Change Research Initiative at the Goddard Institute for Space Studies. The program has educators and graduate students work directly with NASA scientists to lead research teams in a NASA research project related to Climate Change.[26] While at GISS, Donaldson led an ISS Downlink with NASA where students at Brighton Elementary School in Tipton County, Tennessee asked questions to astronauts aboard the International Space Station, taught solar eclipse programming and distributed eclipse glasses to students in Auburn, New York,[27] [28] and hosted an astrobotany workshop for students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Black Families Technology Awareness Day.[29]

Year as Miss United States

Donaldson was crowned Miss United States 2022 in her hometown (Memphis, Tennessee) on October 16, 2022. She is the first Miss United States to visit all 50 U.S. states during her reign. During her year as Miss United States, Donaldson guest-wrote an article about her work with Art Technically for the U.S. Department of Education and was named to the Memphis Flyer's 2023 Memphis 20 under 30 list.[30]

During her reign, Donaldson visited public libraries to donate books and present science storytimes in Hiawatha, Kansas,[31] Hamburg, Iowa,[32] Cokeville, Wyoming,[33] Dearborn Heights, Michigan,[34] Hankinson, North Dakota,[35] Bozeman, Montana,[36] and Lordsburg, New Mexico.[37] She also visited students at the Kurn Hattin Children's Home for Valentine's Day[38] and seniors at the Meals on Wheels program in Bennington, Vermont.[39] She presented science storytimes at her alma mater, Newburgh Elementary School in Newburgh, Indiana.[7]

Donaldson participated in the 2023 Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade,[40] community Christmas festivities in Indianapolis,[41] a Halloween parade in Menands, New York,[42] a STEM festival and health fair in New Orleans, Louisiana,[43] and the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade in Honolulu.[44] She toured Kennedy Space Center facilities and attended NASA’s SpaceX Crew-7 Launch in August 2023.[7]

Pageantry

Donaldson has competed in the Miss United States, Miss America, and Miss USA pageant systems.

Within the Miss United States pageant system, Donaldson has held the titles of Miss Memphis US 2021, Miss Tennessee US 2021, Miss New York US 2022, and Miss United States 2022. On October 16, 2022, Donaldson was crowned Miss United States at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts in Memphis, Tennessee. At Miss United States 2021, while representing Tennessee, Donaldson placed 2nd runner-up and received the People's Choice award.

Within the Miss America pageant system, Donaldson has held the titles of Miss Mid-South's Outstanding Teen 2015 (Tennessee), Miss Tipton County's Outstanding Teen 2016 (Tennessee), Miss District of Columbia State Finalist 2018 and 2019,[45] and Miss Franklin County 2022 (Tennessee).[46] She performed Irish Dance for her talent and won awards for charitable fundraising and the 3rd-place Women in Business interview award at Miss Tennessee 2022[47] and the STEM Award at Miss District of Columbia 2019.

Donaldson competed at Miss District of Columbia USA 2020 and placed top 12.[48]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nuevas . Buenas . June 16, 2022 . Art Technically lleva educación STEM y artística a estudiantes de todo Tennessee . October 22, 2022 . Buenas Nuevas - El hogar de la fe y la esperanza . en-US.
  2. Web site: October 18, 2022 . RPI graduate student named Miss United States . October 22, 2022 . NEWS10 ABC . en-US.
  3. Web site: October 17, 2022 . Representing New York, Mid-South native named Miss United States 2022 . October 22, 2022 . localmemphis.com . en-US.
  4. Web site: Gorenstein . Ben . October 30, 2023 . Miss United States from RPI passes crown after whirlwind year . October 31, 2023 . WNYT.com NewsChannel 13 . en-US.
  5. Web site: November 1, 2023 . Pursuing Purpose: The Beauty of STEM . May 14, 2024 . American University . en.
  6. Web site: June 15, 2006 . The Daily Reporter from Greenfield, Indiana . August 3, 2024 . Newspapers.com . en-US.
  7. Web site: Shemwell . El'Agance . September 7, 2023 . Miss United States visits Newburgh Elementary School . September 8, 2023 . WEVV 44News . en.
  8. Web site: November 3, 2023 . Evansville Living November/December 2023 by Evansville Living Magazine - Issuu . August 3, 2024 . issuu.com . 36 . en.
  9. Web site: Bartlett City Schools . September 22, 2023 . X, formerly Twitter . October 17, 2023 . X (formerly Twitter) . en.
  10. Web site: Donaldson . Lily . November 23, 2022 . Gratitude for Arts and Science Educators . November 27, 2022 . U.S Department of Education Blog . U.S Department of Education.
  11. Web site: Phillips . Bianca . August 11, 2016 . Memphis Flyer 8.11.16 by Contemporary Media - Issuu . August 3, 2024 . issuu.com . 6-9 . en.
  12. Web site: September 3, 2014 . 2015 2016 Staff . August 3, 2024 . The Teen Appeal . en.
  13. Web site: STEM Day: Lily Donaldson . November 27, 2022 . NEWS10 ABC . en-US.
  14. Web site: November 17, 2022 . New and Now: 6 Happenings You Need to Know About . December 14, 2022 . Capital Region Living.
  15. Web site: October 21, 2022 . Tennessee Native Lily Donaldson Crowned Miss United States . November 27, 2022 . Clarksville Online - Clarksville News, Sports, Events and Information . en-US.
  16. Web site: October 27, 2021 . Memphis woman named 2nd runner up at Miss United States 2021 pageant . October 22, 2022 . localmemphis.com . en-US.
  17. Web site: Manga . Risha . August 12, 2022 . Art Technically Wins a $4,000 STEM Action Grant . October 22, 2022 . Memphis Parent - Memphis, TN . en-us.
  18. Web site: Summary - AI Expo for National Competitiveness . May 14, 2024 . web.cvent.com.
  19. Web site: Tennessee STEM Innovation Network . August 3, 2024 . www.tsin.org . en.
  20. Web site: Gorenstein . Ben . October 21, 2022 . RPI doctoral student home after being crowned Miss United States . October 22, 2022 . WNYT.com NewsChannel 13 . en-US.
  21. Web site: November 6, 2023 . Lily K. Donaldson - Customer Spotlight . May 14, 2024 . www.plushinarush.com . en.
  22. News: November 6, 2023 . Tipton County elementary school to chat with astronauts living in space . State Gazette.
  23. Space Station Crew Answers Brighton, Tennessee Student Questions - Nov. 8, 2023 . en . May 14, 2024 . www.youtube.com.
  24. Web site: Tennessee Students Selected for Q&A Session with International Space Station Astronauts . May 14, 2024 . www.tn.gov . en.
  25. Web site: Valenti . Michael . July 8, 2019 . NASA Partnership Provides Grants for AU Research . October 22, 2022 . American University . en.
  26. Web site: Climate Change Research Initiative . National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Goddard Institute for Space Studies.
  27. Web site: Eclipse is an unique learning opportunity for Auburn students Auburn School District . May 14, 2024 . www.aecsd.education . en.
  28. Web site: Citizen . Robert Harding, The . April 8, 2024 . Video: NASA research assistant talks eclipse in Auburn . May 14, 2024 . The Citizen . en.
  29. Web site: Programs Black Families Technology Awareness Day . May 14, 2024 . bftad.admissions.rpi.edu.
  30. Web site: 20 < 30 – The Class of 2023 . June 13, 2023 . MemphisFlyer.
  31. Web site: May . Joey . June 6, 2023 . Library hosts Miss United States . June 13, 2023 . Hiawatha World Online . en.
  32. Web site: June 29, 2023 . Miss United States visits kids at Hamburg Public Library . June 13, 2023 . The Hamburg Reporter.
  33. Web site: August 9, 2023 . Miss United States visits local library . August 11, 2023 . Kemmerer Gazette.
  34. Web site: July 31, 2023 . Miss United States, STEM and arts education advocate, donates books to Dearborn Heights library . August 11, 2023 . Press and Guide . en-US.
  35. Web site: July 24, 2023 . Miss United States visits Hankinson Public Library . August 11, 2023 . Daily News & News Monitor . en.
  36. Web site: Storytime with Miss United States at the Montana Science Center Montana Science Center, Bozeman, MT August 18, 2023 . September 8, 2023 . happeningnext.com . en.
  37. Web site: June 14, 2023 . This week's Herald — Hidalgo Herald . June 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230616195601/https://www.hidalgoherald.com/shop/p/hidalgo-herald-sept-24-2021-3bed7 . June 16, 2023 .
  38. Web site: February 21, 2023 . Miss United States visits Kurn Hattin Homes . June 13, 2023 . Brattleboro Reformer . en.
  39. Web site: February 17, 2023 . Miss United States visits Meals on Wheels in Bennington . June 13, 2023 . NEWS10 ABC . en-US.
  40. Web site: Limited . Alamy . Miss United States waving at 2023 South Boston St. Patrick's Day and Evacuation Day Parade Stock Photo - Alamy . June 14, 2023 . www.alamy.com . en.
  41. Web site: December 6, 2022 . Snapshot: Lawrence kicks off Winterfest • Current Publishing . June 14, 2023 . en-US.
  42. Web site: Gorenstein . Ben . October 21, 2022 . RPI doctoral student home after being crowned Miss United States . June 14, 2023 . WNYT.com NewsChannel 13 . en-US.
  43. NOheadlines . August 17, 2023 . STEM NOLA's STEM Fest and Health Fair Saturday, Aug. 19th . September 8, 2023 . New Orleans Newswire . en-US.
  44. Web site: Staff REPORT . December 19, 2022 . Local high school cheerleaders perform in Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade . June 14, 2023 . Hannibal.net . en.
  45. Web site: Past Competitions . January 16, 2023 . Miss District of Columbia Scholarship Organization . en.
  46. Web site: Miss Tennessee Scholarship Competition 2022 contestants tour Overton Square . November 27, 2022 . www.commercialappeal.com . en.
  47. Web site: Meet Miss Franklin County . November 27, 2022 . Herald Chronicle . en.
  48. Web site: Miss District of Columbia USA and Miss DC Teen USA results . March 29, 2023 . Pageant Update . en-US.