Wilmington’s “STEM Queen” earns national Obama–Chesky honor – The News Journal
At 12 years old, University of Delaware student Jacqueline Means set out to make science fun and encourage girls in her community.
A decade later, that same drive to open doors in STEM has taken her from local classrooms to national recognition, and now, to the world stage. Means has been selected to receive an Obama–Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service, a $50,000 honor supporting students dedicated to the public good.
As a Voyager Scholar, Means will take her advocacy for girls in STEM to a global level. She joins 100 college juniors nationwide chosen for a two-year fellowship program designed to expand young leaders’ horizons through international travel, mentorship and real-world experience in public service.
The Voyager Scholarship was created by former President Barack and Michelle Obama and Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky to support the next generation of leaders to help tackle the world’s biggest challenges.
“It still feels insane to even hear that,” Means said.
Recipients receive up to $25,000 per year in financial aid during their junior and senior years to help cover the cost of college. Between those years, students participate in a “Summer Voyage,” an immersive work-travel experience supported by a $10,000 stipend and free housing provided through Airbnb.
After graduation, scholars receive a $2,000 annual travel credit for 10 years — a total of $20,000 — to continue exploring new communities and standpoints. They also gain lifelong access to the Obama Foundation’s global network and programming.
The Wilmington native plans to use her summer voyage to study gender inequality in STEM fields around the world, visiting countries where women’s representation in science is thriving, and where it lags behind. Her goal is to compare the two and develop a proposal that she can present to legislators in the U.S. and in Delaware to help drive change.
While most of her plans are still in the early stages, she already knows where she wants to go after graduation. “Japan,” she said immediately. “I’ve always had a fascination with the history, the culture and definitely the anime.”
Before she became known nationally as the STEM Queen, Means was a 12-year-old with a love of science who wanted other girls in her community to see their potential. She said that with only 29% of the STEM workforce being female, “it’s easy not to see yourself there.”
She began by visiting schools and community centers, leading hands-on science experiments and demonstrations. That early effort grew into The STEM Queen Initiative, a nonprofit she says has reached more than 6,500 girls nationwide and raised over $40,000 through corporate partnerships.
Means has appeared on national platforms including, “The Today Show,” “The View,” “Access Hollywood,” “The Steve Harvey Show” and “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” to promote her mission of encouraging girls to pursue STEM.
Between classes at UD, where she majors in management information systems and community outreach, Means also competes in pageants. The 22-year-old has earned multiple pageant titles, including Miss Black USA Talented Teen, Miss Delaware USA, Miss Philadelphia, and most recently, Miss Caribbean U.S. 2025.
Through her growing list of accomplishments, Means has become a familiar face across Delaware, leading her mother to affectionately dub her a “Del-ebrity.” Despite the recognition, she remains grounded, especially when she hears from girls inspired by her advocacy in STEM. She now hopes her selection as a Voyager Scholar encourages other UD students to aim high.
“When I applied, I said, ‘oh, there’s probably thousands of applicants.’ Means said. “A lot of the Obama–Chesky Scholarship recipients are from Ivy League schools,” she said. “But little old me, right here at UD, got it.”
Already known as the STEM Queen, “Del-ebrity,” pageant winner, and now Obama–Chesky Voyager, Means is far from finished. The ambitious student said she still has “a laundry list of things” she hopes to accomplish.
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