BME alumna’s legacy lives on through scholarships, nonprofit

Written by Jazmine Lopez

The legacy of a 2021 University of Iowa biomedical engineering graduate who lost her life prematurely four years ago persists at Iowa through a scholarship honoring her passion for engineering and her commitment to serving others.

Molly Anne Corlett died at age 23 in 2022 as the result of a rupture of a previously undetectable and asymptomatic arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in her brain. For her family, creating the Molly Anne Corlett Memorial Scholarship at the College of Engineering was a way for them to transform grief into purpose.

“We’ve tried to take a tragedy and turn it into a triumph,” said Cindy Mason-Corlett, Molly’s mother. “Take this darkness and turn it into light for others and bring light into the world. In her name, she was such a light, and we are trying to carry her legacy forward.”

The scholarship for undergraduate biomedical engineering students supports those who demonstrate academic excellence, along with empathy, service, and a commitment to improving the lives of others.

The scholarship is part of a broader effort through the Molly’s Miracles Foundation, created by her family to continue the work she cared deeply about, such as supporting education, service, and opportunities for young people

Choosing Iowa

When it came to choosing a college, Molly had scholarship opportunities in her longtime home state of Colorado, but she also felt a strong connection to Iowa. Her father, John Corlett, a 1983 Iowa alum, would bring the family to Iowa for Hawkeye football games, basketball games, and to visit friends and family. 

From an early age, Molly proudly called herself a “Hawkeye.”

Those trips left a lasting impression, even though she thought the nickname was “Hawk Guys” as a young child.

At Iowa, Molly rarely missed a Hawkeye home football game and became known among friends for showing up early and cheering loudly from the front rows of the student section. Her parents often spotted her on ESPN broadcasts during games. 

Even after a full day of gameday excitement, Molly would often head back to the library or her apartment to study, preparing for the coursework of biomedical engineering. 

Setting the curve

Academically, Molly participated in Iowa’s U2G program, allowing her to complete her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biomedical engineering in just five years, graduating with highest distinction. 

Not until graduation did many of her classmates realize Molly had consistently set the curve on exams. 

“Molly is, and was, sunshine,” said Molly’s friend, Corinna Carney-Schutte. “She is and was the blueprint in how to be both a leader and a servant, simultaneously boldly stepping into her purpose and excelling at it without any praise in return.”

Molly contributed to published research in the National Library of Medicine. She focused on gait analysis and prosthetics in Dr. Jason Wilken’s research lab and was recognized not only for her technical skills but also for her positive presence.

Never stop giving

St. Mary’s Hospital benefited from Molly’s weekly volunteerism, and classmates benefited from tutoring. Family would later discover Molly had been helping her apartment's custodian practice English. She donated more than 30 inches of her hair before the age of 15 and spent a summer volunteering at Adam’s Camp while maintaining connections with campers and their families for years afterward. 

“Even on her worst days, she believed she could be a blessing to others,” Molly’s father said.

After graduation from Iowa, Molly began her professional career at Penumbra, Inc., in California, developing medical devices designed to treat brain aneurysms. She loved her work as an engineer overseeing a production line and often told her parents, “I was born to do this.” 

When Molly unexpectedly passed, colleagues lined up outside the hospital to support her family. After her death she continued to give as an organ donor, saving five lives. 

To learn more about Molly's life, visit mollysmiracles.org.

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