Gaithersburg MS PTA

🌟 GMSxNovavax: Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators 🌟

We had another incredible “Meet a Pro” session this week with Shervon Branch, Senior Manager of Quality at Novavax!

Over 90 students joined us during lunch to hear Shervon share her journey—from growing up in Baltimore City with an early interest in science and health, to building a 25+ year career in biotechnology.

One of the best parts of the session was the conversation with students. They asked thoughtful questions, made connections to their own interests, and engaged in meaningful discussion about future possibilities.

Shervon shared a powerful message with our students:
✨ You can succeed in your education, career, and your passions—you don’t have to choose just one path.

This is what strong community partnerships look like—local professionals giving back, sharing their stories, and helping students see what’s possible for their future.

We are so grateful to Shervon and our Novavax partners for continuing to invest in our students! 💙
Montgomery County Public Schools

We’re excited to share the continued success of GMSxNovavax, a partnership that brings local industry leaders directly into our school to connect students with real-world education and career pathways.

This initiative is a collaboration between MoCoCAP, Gaithersburg Middle School, and the GMS PTA, with the support of Coach Latimer and Ms. Dyson. It was developed by Sumi Moses, GMS PTA President and Lead IT Business Analyst at Novavax, helping build a bridge between our school and the local biotech community. After a strong launch, we are excited to continue and grow this program to create ongoing, meaningful opportunities for our students.

So far, we’ve hosted:

- Kate Malachowski, Director of Manufacturing Science & Technology
- John Kutney, Vice President of Manufacturing

Together, they’ve engaged over 140 students across multiple lunch sessions. Students are recommended by staff to ensure a diverse group of learners, and Novavax generously provides lunch, allowing students to fully participate.

These are not traditional presentations. Students are actively asking thoughtful questions, engaging in discussion, and working through real-world challenges tied to each speaker’s career. The level of curiosity and participation has been outstanding.

🔬 Continuing the Series
Shervon Branch – Senior Manager, Quality (May 4)
Dorothy Johnson – R&D, Vaccine Discovery (May 18)
Paul Kabiritsi – Materials Management & Logistics (June 1)

If you would like to recommend your student for a future session, please email Ms. Dyson - [email protected]

We’re grateful to our Novavax partners for investing in our students and helping us build something that is already making an impact—and will continue to grow in our school community. 💙