Meet the 2022 Arredondo STEM Scholarship Winners

Fordham Prep is proud to announce the first-ever recipients of the Angeles T. Arredondo (ATA) Foundation STEM Scholarship: Max Machado ‘22, Thomas McFarland ‘22, and Michael Reeder ‘22.

 “The Arredondo Foundation Scholarship will allow our students to pursue a degree in the STEM field and it will lift the financial burden just a bit for these families,” he said.

As part of the school’s iSTEAM program, the ATA Foundation is giving the Prep the opportunity to award in each of the next five years three seniors with STEM scholarships for college tuition totaling $85,000. This makes the foundation’s commitment to Fordham Prep, our iSTEAM program, and our students an astounding $425,000 over the duration of the grant. A new group of qualified students will be chosen each year.

Three students from a pool of diverse candidates who were interested in pursuing a degree in STEM were selected to receive the scholarship. Candidates were required to take at least two advanced STEM courses such as Calculus Honors, Chemistry, and Physics. Only the two highest grades received in each course were counted in the decision process.

Students have the option to use their scholarship award during their first year or distribute the award throughout their matriculation in college. The three seniors awarded will receive their prize certificates on graduation day.

1st Prize Winner: Max Machado ‘22 ($50k Scholarship)
Princeton-bound Max Machado is President of the Prep’s 3D Printing Club. “I hope to get a job someday working hands-on,” he said. “I’m hoping to go into aeronautics to work with planes. My dream job would be to work with Boeing,” he continued.

In addition to working on building a drone in the 3D Printing Club, Machado also enjoys tinkering with robots in the Robotics Club, playing the trumpet in the band, and serving as Executive Activities Coordinator in Student Government. He is also on the Track & Field team and traveled to Tennessee in 2021 for the Appalachia Habitat for Humanity service trip. Machado plans to study mechanical engineering at Princeton University in the fall. 

“One word I would use to describe Max is creative,” said science teacher John Haag ‘84. “Max has a deep insight into how things work, using his imagination to see what is possible. He possesses a great ability to create what he imagines into reality. Max stands out in class by leading his classmates with new ideas.”

Machado was selected to speak at Fordham Prep’s inaugural iSTEAM Expo on May 4th (Star Wars Day) this year. Machado showcased a drone he is working to build with his classmates at the expo.

2nd Prize Winner: Thomas McFarland ‘22 ($25k Scholarship)
Thomas McFarland plans to study Computer Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the fall.

“iSTEAM has helped me explore interests I did not know I had,” said McFarland. “I always knew I loved computers, but entering Chemistry and AP Chemistry taught me that I enjoy other types of science as well. It was a new and exciting thing to learn, and other experiences like Cybersecurity have repeated the same type of excitement.” 

At the Prep, he played the clarinet in the band and is on the Swimming and Diving team. He was class president during his sophomore year. 

“If I have to pick one word [to describe McFarland] it's ingenious, if I can pick two it's fiercely curious,” said math teacher Arianne Dempsey. “He is interested in everything, adept in so many areas, and always seeking to know more, even sometimes sneaking in the few minutes between classes to read. A classmate of his once said as a great compliment that Tommy could just be [Khan Academy founder] Sal Khan,” she added.

McFarland also attended the inaugural iSTEAM Expo to celebrate iSTEAM with his fellow classmates at the 3D Printing Club’s exhibit. 

3rd Prize Winner: Michael Reeder ‘22 ($10k Scholarship)
For Michael Reeder, the iSTEAM program at Fordham Prep helped him to realize how much he enjoys collaborating with others. He will be attending the University of Notre Dame in the fall to study Science Preprofessional Studies or Neuroscience & Behavior.

“The science classes I have taken at the Prep have been active, collaborative, and engaging, so I would prefer a career that reflects these qualities,” he stated. “This is steering me towards STEM careers like medicine and engineering.”

Reeder played the trombone in the band and is a member of the Track & Field team. He also serves as Executive Publicist in Student Government and traveled to Tennessee in 2021 for the Appalachia Habitat for Humanity service trip. 

“It has been an absolute pleasure teaching Michael,” said science teacher Brian Sullivan ‘96. “He provides a wonderful presence in class due to his wonderful work ethic and eagerness to participate and engage with class discussions. He also provides appropriate humor and levity which also adds to the class dynamic,” he added.

To learn more about iSTEAM at Fordham Prep, visit https://www.fordhamprep.org/academics/isteam.