Los Alamos High School graduating senior Natalie Aulwes has graduated with honors and will attend Texas A&M University’s School of Engineering to pursue a degree in Biomedical Engineering. She was inducted into the National Honor Society and the National Mathematics Honors Society and will graduate with academic, service, and athletic honors. She has been a dedicated Girl Scout for 12 years, earning her Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. Natalie was nominated to be nationally recognized for her Gold Award project which involved engineering a highly efficient solar powered helicopter pad on the east summit of Pajarito Mountain and for hosting a girls STEM workshop. She was a member of the United Way Youth Group, the Bradbury Science Youth Advisory Board, the Robotics Club, and worked in the math department as a student tutor. She loved being a part of the Youth Group and the Girls’ Group at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. As a member of the LAHS Girls Varsity Swim team, Natalie helped her team capture their 7th straight District Championship title. She was a paid crew member on the YMCA Youth Conservation Corps which highlighted her love of the outdoors. Natalie is an expert level alpine skier and has dedicated her Girl Scout Gold Award to the Pajarito Mountain Ski Patrol where she has volunteered over 300 hours as a Nationally Certified Ski Patroller. She was nominated as Ski Patroller of the Year of the NSP Rocky Mountain Young Adult Patrol Division. Natalie is a student intern in the Los Alamos National Laboratory Applied Engineering Division where she has gained valuable experience programming a 6-jointed robotic arm. Natalie is the only daughter of Sheila and Robert McClees and Rob Aulwes. Photo by Robert McClees