Two IUSD high school seniors were recently named Edison Scholars and awarded a $50,000 scholarship each from Edison International to pursue science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) in college. A total of 30 other high school seniors in Southern California received this honor annually.
This year’s IUSD recipients include:
Matthew Chang, Woodbridge High School
Matthew first learned about climate change in middle school and decided to address the issue through science. Building upon five years of climate change research at UC Irvine, Matthew will continue his academic and scientific development through studies in Environmental Science. From identifying biomarkers in plants affected by increasing global temperatures to engineering fungi to harness their untapped carbon capture potential, he has come to appreciate science not only to unearth biology's deepest mysteries but also as a powerful tool to make change.
Matthew's outstanding achievements led to a special recognition: Pedro J. Pizarro, President and Chief Executive Officer for Edison International, personally presented Matthew Chang with his scholarship. Among the 30 scholarship recipients, Matthew was the sole student selected for this personal presentation.
Yuyu “Winnie” Wei, Northwood High School
Recognizing the dual nature of solar panel technology—both its substantial environmental advantages and the challenges posed by material degradation and toxic waste disposal—Winnie intends to pursue Applied Mathematics in college to help combat these challenges. Her goal is to analyze data and models that balance sustainability, efficiency and economic viability in solar panel use.
“We are incredibly proud of these scholars, as their dedication to STEM and their commitment to addressing real-world challenges exemplify the profound innovation that defines our district,” stated IUSD Director of STEM Bob Curley. “We look forward to seeing the many more remarkable accomplishments they will achieve and how they will continue to impact our community.”
The Edison Scholars Program awards scholarships to seniors who want to be the makers of tomorrow, working to make a difference.
Learn more about the 2025 Edison Scholars.