Applications are being accepted for STEM Scholars, a 14th Congressional District youth leadership program encouraging highly-motivated and energetic high school students to become ambassadors in their communities for the possibilities provided by science, technology, engineering and mathematics (#STEMScholars).

“This past year has been a blast with our exceptional class of high school STEM Scholars as we participated in a diverse set of hands-on activities and learning opportunities at local businesses, educational institutions, research facilities and more,” said U.S. Rep. Hultgren, member of the Committee on Space, Science and Technology and co-chairman of the STEM Education Caucus. “I again extend an invite to all 14th District high school students — get your applications in now and join us next school year to advance your interest in STEM while having fun.”

The #STEMScholars program includes programming specifically designed to expose students to STEM careers and to build STEM leadership qualities and skills.

STEM Scholars will grow their leadership skills through presentations, higher-level discussions and on-site visits to some of the 14th District’s premier facilities.

This past school year, Hultgren and the STEM Scholars tackled microbiology with community college faculty, learned about food flavoring science and career and industry trends, got their hands dirty cleaning out invasive species and studying ecology alongside scientists at a retreat and ecology center, visited the shop floor of a local manufacturer to see how the company makes and customizes forklifts for their customers, practiced forensic science and law enforcement investigative techniques at a sheriff’s and coroner’s offices, viewed a sub-ice rover used to conduct research in Antarctica and tested out laser cutters at a local university, and saw up-close how infrared countermeasures keep aircraft safe and the science behind NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope alongside engineers at a large government contractor, among other experiences.

In its inaugural year, the group worked alongside food flavoring professionals measuring chocolate syrup to see how it mixed and tasted differently with different types of milk, saw first-hand the partnership a local business has with NASA’s Space Launch System which could carry our astronauts to Mars, engaged in hands-on learning with flight simulators, observed the ways in which companies like Caterpillar, Rolls-Royce and Microsoft are collaborating together with dozens of universities in a regional hub in downtown Chicago, and talked to STEM professionals about their careers at a local science museum.

The STEM Scholars program runs from September 2018 through April 2019. The deadline to apply is June 30, 2018. For more information and to apply online, please visit http://hultgren.house.gov/serving-you/stem-scholars.