Freshman Evy Bosko was selected for a unique opportunity to
attend The United States Naval Academy Summer STEM Program in Annapolis, Md. For
six days, Evy lived at the Naval Academy where she learned, built, and explored
in a world-class laboratory and experienced real-world applications of STEM
principles.
“It was an amazing experience,” said Evy about her week in
Annapolis. “I am definitely planning on going back again next year.”
This annual USNA STEM camp encourages young men and women to
explore the different aspects of STEM and demonstrates the practical
applications of each field. Using the state-of-the-art facilities and equipment
available on campus, students were engaged in different thought-provoking
exercises and experiments. Activities included calculating the optimal route
for a rescue aircraft using a limited amount of fuel, constructing model
buildings to withstand different wind intensities, building robots and
programming them to perform different tasks, testing the strength of different
grades of steel in various conditions, and exploring the epidemiology of infectious
diseases and how easily they can spread out of control. And although STEM-based
activities were the focus of the program, campers also got to enjoy intramural
sports, social events, and a trip to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington,
D.C.
Campers came from all over the United States, and the highly
selective process only accepted about
18% of all who applied. The process combed through each applicant’s coursework, grades, standardized test scores, and club memberships, and only the highest achievers were invited to attend. Although it was a relatively small group of students, the friendships and memories that they made with one another will last for a lifetime.
18% of all who applied. The process combed through each applicant’s coursework, grades, standardized test scores, and club memberships, and only the highest achievers were invited to attend. Although it was a relatively small group of students, the friendships and memories that they made with one another will last for a lifetime.
“I got to meet people from all over the country, and we
still keep in touch,” said Evy. “It’s really cool to be among a group of young people
who all have an interest in STEM.”
Although she has only just started high school, Evy has already
begun to plan her career trajectory after she graduates. Stacking her class
schedule with advanced courses in math and the sciences, she intends to use all
that she learns to help people by solving crimes.
“I’d love to go into a law enforcement field where I also
get to use science,” she said. “I’m looking at forensic science, maybe in an
agency like the FBI.”