Williams attends 29th annual High School Summer Math-Science-Technology Institute
Lead Summary
By
Press Release-
Kara Williams, the daughter of Chuck and Becky Williams, was one of 37 high school students attending the 29th annual High School Summer Math-Science-Technology Institute in Oak Ridge, Tenn.
The high school students joined teachers selected from across 11 Appalachian states to spend two weeks fully engaged in math, science, engineering and technology (STEM), including learning experiences at one of the country’s leading national laboratories.
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The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and ORAU hosted the exceptional learning experience. Gov. John Kasich nominated Williams, a student at Lynchburg-Clay, to attend this accelerated learning program. She was selected based on her potential to excel in math and science and to continue in higher learning.
Since 2000, the program has provided this opportunity to a total of 684 students and 283 teachers.
Students and teachers participated in research projects led by ORNL scientists and mentors. Williams and teammates investigated supercomputers, robotics systems or engineering development. The teachers focused on chemical sciences, neutron sciences, molecular biophysics and cytogenetic biodosimetry. Students and teachers had ample time to ask questions during discovery sessions at the national laboratory, and they benefitted from the camaraderie and networking with scientists and mentors.
“The ARC-ORNL Summer Institute is often the first intensive exposure many of these students have to STEM fields,” said Tim Thomas, ARC Federal Co Chair. “Every year, we hear from program alumnae about how their summer institute experiences at ORNL have helped them reach their academic potential and inspired a lifetime of learning and leadership.”
“Many exciting opportunities open up for participants at the High School Summer Math-Science- Technology Institute and Middle School Summer Science Academy. Often, participants may develop a lifelong love of STEM subjects and continue to pursue STEM careers. Teachers gain a renewed passion for promoting STEM subjects with knowledge of emerging sciences and technologies,” said Marie Westfall, who manages the program for ORAU.
During this year’s educational sessions, participants toured the historic Graphite Reactor and ORNL research and supercomputing facilities. By visiting East Tennessee’s iconic science and research facilities, students were introduced to the broad realm of career possibilities in STEM fields.
To see a complete list of students and teachers, and learn more about their experiences, https://www.orau.org/arc-ornl/2018/index.html.
About the Appalachian Regional Commission
The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 420 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the Region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory is managed by UT-Battelle for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit http://science.energy.gov/.
ORAU provides innovative scientific and technical solutions to advance national priorities in science, education, security and health. Through specialized teams of experts, unique laboratory capabilities and access to a consortium of more than 100 major Ph.D.-granting institutions, ORAU works with federal, state, local and commercial customers to advance national priorities and serve the public interest. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and federal contractor, ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org.
The high school students joined teachers selected from across 11 Appalachian states to spend two weeks fully engaged in math, science, engineering and technology (STEM), including learning experiences at one of the country’s leading national laboratories.
[[In-content Ad]]
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and ORAU hosted the exceptional learning experience. Gov. John Kasich nominated Williams, a student at Lynchburg-Clay, to attend this accelerated learning program. She was selected based on her potential to excel in math and science and to continue in higher learning.
Since 2000, the program has provided this opportunity to a total of 684 students and 283 teachers.
Students and teachers participated in research projects led by ORNL scientists and mentors. Williams and teammates investigated supercomputers, robotics systems or engineering development. The teachers focused on chemical sciences, neutron sciences, molecular biophysics and cytogenetic biodosimetry. Students and teachers had ample time to ask questions during discovery sessions at the national laboratory, and they benefitted from the camaraderie and networking with scientists and mentors.
“The ARC-ORNL Summer Institute is often the first intensive exposure many of these students have to STEM fields,” said Tim Thomas, ARC Federal Co Chair. “Every year, we hear from program alumnae about how their summer institute experiences at ORNL have helped them reach their academic potential and inspired a lifetime of learning and leadership.”
“Many exciting opportunities open up for participants at the High School Summer Math-Science- Technology Institute and Middle School Summer Science Academy. Often, participants may develop a lifelong love of STEM subjects and continue to pursue STEM careers. Teachers gain a renewed passion for promoting STEM subjects with knowledge of emerging sciences and technologies,” said Marie Westfall, who manages the program for ORAU.
During this year’s educational sessions, participants toured the historic Graphite Reactor and ORNL research and supercomputing facilities. By visiting East Tennessee’s iconic science and research facilities, students were introduced to the broad realm of career possibilities in STEM fields.
To see a complete list of students and teachers, and learn more about their experiences, https://www.orau.org/arc-ornl/2018/index.html.
About the Appalachian Regional Commission
The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 420 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the Region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory is managed by UT-Battelle for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit http://science.energy.gov/.
ORAU provides innovative scientific and technical solutions to advance national priorities in science, education, security and health. Through specialized teams of experts, unique laboratory capabilities and access to a consortium of more than 100 major Ph.D.-granting institutions, ORAU works with federal, state, local and commercial customers to advance national priorities and serve the public interest. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and federal contractor, ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org.