Katherine Salom

RSS senior attends prestigious leadership academy

In February, Honeywell awarded scholarships to 254 students from 30 countries and 30 U.S. states and territories to attend the Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy (HLCA). This weeklong leadership and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) program took place at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Among the students selected to the elite academy was Katherine Salom, a senior at Ross S. Sterling High School. The 17-year-old varsity cheerleader is the daughter of Lisa and Jaime Salom. She was one of five students from Texas to attend.

Katherine said she wanted to attend the prestigious academy because she wanted the opportunity to meet people from all over the world, to be able to become a better leader in the community and to be able to experience many amazing opportunities at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.

There was a very rigorous application and selection process to be chosen, she said.

“We took part in workshops that tested our knowledge about current issues facing the fields of science, technology and engineering, and challenged us to apply ourselves as a leader,” Katherine said. “We worked with peers from all over the world which gave us views of how everyone saw the different challenges we were faced with.”

HLCA provides children of Honeywell employees with the opportunity to develop their leadership skills through technology- and science-oriented workshops, lectures, and team exercises that include simulated astronaut training that brings these studies to life.

Developed in partnership with the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, the program is designed to encourage high school students to pursue STEM-related careers.

During the course of the program, students meet with scientists, engineers, and former astronauts to reinforce core leadership competencies and provide them with first-hand professional experiences.

Students engage in interactive challenges such as designing, building, and testing their own rockets, bridge structures, and DNA extraction experiments.

“The program is designed to help develop a new generation of leaders, engineers, and scientists by honing their skills in purposeful leadership, effective communication, integrated planning, team trust and cohesion, and critical thinking,” said Tom Buckmaster, president, Honeywell Hometown Solutions.

Katherine has also been chosen for other impressive scholarship programs.

In 2011, she was chosen as one of the 50 students from the United States and Puerto Rico to participate in the LULAC Washington Youth Leadership Conference.
She also received the Bronze Award for community service in the National Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards.

Katherine is currently involved in National Honor Society, Key Club and Future Farmers of America, serving as the President of the Sterling chapter and a District officer.

She has also achieved the highest honor in Texas FFA, earning the Lonestar Award.
he also serves on the Architectural Committee for re-design and modification of the facade of Ross Sterling High School.

And there is more:


Girl Scouts — She is a 13-year member of Girl Scouts and is currently accomplishing the activities to earn the highest award available - the Gold Award. She served as a delegate this year at the National Convention, where we celebrated the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts. One of her goals is to become the Troop Leader next year for a local Daisy Girl Scout Troop. “I want to continue the tradition that was passed to me by my Mother and my Grandmother.”


Cheerleader — she has represented her school for four years and helped with choreography and teaching tumbling and stunts to the group. She was recently awarded the Wendy’s High School Heisman award based upon her involvement with cheer and with community service.

In 2010, she earned a spot of the U.S. National Team for Performance Gymnastics, competing against thousands of gymnasts from across the world in Laussane, Switzerland.

And amid her busy schedule, she also assists in care of her brother who has autism. “It is my job in our family. “It is not a paying job but it is one I perform willingly,” she says. “I am actively involved to ensure he has every opportunity he can to succeed.”

Katherine spent her entire public school career in Goose Creek CISD, attending Stephen F. Austin Elementary School and Cedar Bayou Junior High.

Katherine says she will be attending Texas A&M University in the fall, majoring in animal science.

After earning a bachelor’s degree, she plans to go to medical school and work to become a radiologist.