Governor Scott Announces Florida's National Youth Science Camp Winners
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Governor Scott Announces Florida's National Youth Science Camp Winners
Tallahassee, Fl. - Governor Rick Scott today announced that Laurie Jean Scott from Martin County and Delaney Rose Ahrens from Hernando County have been selected as the two most promising young scientific leaders in Florida's 2013 high school graduating class. At the invitation of West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, they will serve as Florida's ambassadors at the 50th annual National Youth Science Camp (NYSC) in Green Bank, West Virginia. Lachonda Marie Lacey from Sumter County and Tessa Marie Voorhees from Seminole County have been selected as alternates.
Governor Scott said, "Thanks to our great teachers, Florida students are among the best in the world. I had the opportunity to attend Florida's State Science Fair in Lakeland, and saw firsthand how advanced Florida's students are in STEM education. Laurie and Delaney were selected as the most promising scientific leaders in Florida, and they'll serve as great ambassadors for the Sunshine State in West Virginia."
Laurie Jean Scott is a senior in the International Baccalaureate program at South Fork High School in Stuart, and intends to major in pre-medicine. Recently, Laurie presented research on whitefly DNA analysis at the State Science and Engineering Fair in Lakeland. Laurie is involved in the National Honor Society, Envirothon, Varsity cross country, track, and soccer, and is also a youth leader for her church youth group and participates in community service projects.
Delaney Rose Ahrens is a senior at Hernando High School in Brooksville. She will attend Purdue University next fall and will study pharmaceutical sciences. Delaney also presented her research at the State Science and Engineering Fair and has been very active in the local, state, and national 4-H and Future Farmers of America. She is involved with the National Honor Society, Phi Theta Kappa, soccer, and participates in community service projects.
Commissioner of Education Dr. Tony Bennett said, "Student achievement in STEM subjects is vital to success in up-and-coming high-skill, high-wage careers. I applaud these talented young ladies on their nominations and am confident they will represent the Sunshine State well at the National Youth Science Camp."
Established in 1963 as a part of West Virginia's Centennial Celebration, the NYSC is an annual summer forum where two delegates representing each state exchange ideas with leading scientists and other professionals from academic and corporate worlds. Scientists from across the United States who work on some of the most provocative topics in science today-fractal geometry, the human genome project, global climate change, the history of the universe, the fate of our rain forests and robotics-present lectures and hands-on research projects.