TaNia Donatto, Liberty High School Class of 2019, graduated with her Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering from Stanford University located in Palo Alto, Calif., in June 2024.
At graduation, TaNia was presented with the Centennial Teaching Assistant Award voted on by the students and faculty for her dedication and service in providing excellent classroom instruction for Stanford students in Math 21 ACE (Additional Calculus for Engineers). Last year, TaNia received her B.S. in the same field of study conferred with distinction, an honor given to those in the top 15 percent overall of the graduating class along with receiving a minor in Creative Writing – Poetry.
In contrast to the semester system, Stanford University is on the quarter system with school commencing in late September and ending in mid-June. During the 2023-24 academic year, TaNia continued her research with the Extreme Environment Microsystems Laboratory (XLab) culminating in writing her thesis entitled: Methods for the Electrical Property Characterization of Porous Graphene Aerogel for Earth and Future In-Space Applications.
It is noteworthy to state that at an early age TaNia has had an affinity to space-related interests. During her five years at Stanford University and two degrees later, TaNia completed internships at NASA Ames Research Center, three at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, Calif., with time spent at their site in Boca Chica, Texas, and at Vast Space. She was also employed by the Hume Center for Writing and Speaking for three years as an Oral Communications Tutor.
Congratulations on your accomplishments and continued successes TaNia, especially in the space industry where she currently works full-time at Vast Space, a company developing artificial gravity space stations, in Long Beach, Calif. She is their first Crew Equipment Engineer, helping to ensure astronauts will have everything they need for successful mission completion.
TaNia is the daughter of Victor and Tonya Hebert Donatto. Her sisters are Nailah (Stanford ‘27) and Simone. She is the granddaughter of Ruthie Hebert and Valencia Arceneaux.
Congratulations 🎊 🎉 🎊 👏🏽 👏🏽 🙏🏽