Memphis, TN – Lily K. Donaldson of Cordova, Tennessee was crowned Miss USA Sunday night at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts in Memphis, Tennessee. She represented New York State, where she is now attending school as a Ph.D. student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Donaldson is a graduate of Bolton High School in Shelby County, Tennessee. She advocates for the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and arts education for disadvantaged K-12 students through her non-profit organization, Art Technically [arttechnically.org], based in Memphis.
“The arts teach students creativity and confidence, and STEM teaches students critical thinking and work skills. Both are necessary for a well-rounded education, and both are sorely underserved in our most underserved schools… I have a mission with Art Technically to ensure that all children have the opportunity to become the artists and scientists who make our world a happier, healthier and better place,” Donaldson said during the speaking competition at the stage
Using art technically, Donaldson has taught STEM and arts workshops for K-12 students and teachers during the Tennessee STEAM Festival, the Tennessee STEM Innovation Summit, and in K-12 schools across Tennessee; delivered Barbie dolls and teddy bears to the artist and scientist at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and Southern TN Medical Center in Franklin County; distributed free STEM and STEAM books to Title 1 schools in all Tennessee congressional districts; and delivered Valentine’s Day cards made by students during coding workshops to more than 2,000 seniors at home through Meals on Wheels programs with the Interfaith Association of Metropolitan Memphis and the Kiwani Club of Franklin County.
Donaldson has a bachelor’s degree in computer science from American University and a master’s degree in lighting from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She is currently a second-year doctor. RPI student studying Controlled Environment Agriculture within the architecture school.
“Being an architecture student is really interesting because I can combine my two passions and design and technology to innovate solutions to real world problems. My research is related to figuring out how to feed the world in the face of climate change and a growing population through indoor agriculture and new agricultural technologies. I attended Bolton High School in Shelby County, which has a long history with agriculture and is now an agriSTEM school, so I returned to the field of agriculture as a Ph.D. Student has made me feel even more connected to my hometown and the state of Tennessee,” Donaldson said.
Donaldson has previously worked as a software developer for the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Energy, and NASA’s DC Space Grant Consortium. He plans to return to the federal government after completing his Ph.D.
“Serving the people of America is something I am passionate about. In my career, I hope to bring that passion to the federal government as a leader in STEM and technology, and as Miss America, that passion will guide me and my charitable work in early childhood education during the next year of service,” he said. added
