On Thursday, June 25, 2026, the BRSTEM community gathered for a powerful recognition ceremony celebrating the achievements of our BRSTEM Fellows. The event marked the culmination of a rigorous, transformative 4-week Summer Intensive hosted at Scotlandville Magnet High School, where 25 ambitious 9th and 10th graders spent their summer diving headfirst into the world of innovation.
Over the course of the past month, our Fellows immersed themselves in an experiential curriculum designed to challenge their critical thinking and unlock real-world solutions. The intensive exposed students to an expansive range of professional STEM disciplines, combining technical skill training, leadership development, and hands-on application across eight core areas:
- Agriculture: Discovering sustainable modern farming techniques and biological systems.
- Coding: Building fundamental logic, software literacy, and computational thinking.
- Electrical Engineering: Working with circuitry, hardware physics, and electronics.
- Structural Engineering: Designing resilient architectural frameworks capable of weathering real-world forces.
- Aeronautical Engineering: Investigating the complex mechanics of flight and aerodynamics.
- Architecture: Merging spatial design, blueprints, and mathematics.
- Biology & Chemistry: Conducting laboratory investigations and mastering molecular concepts.
Beyond the Lab: Academic Excellence & Leadership
True leadership requires a holistic approach. Beyond their engineering and lab exposures, the BRSTEM Fellows dedicated substantial time to personal, academic, and career milestones. Students participated in intensive math and science enrichment to get a head start on the exact subjects they will take in the upcoming school year. Furthermore, the cohort received specialized ACT Prep training and professional college and career coaching to ensure they are highly competitive candidates as they journey toward higher education.
Equally important, students underwent comprehensive facilitator training, equipping them with the soft skills, public speaking confidence, and leadership presence required to guide workshops and mentor others within their communities.
Leadership Spotlight
An exceptional program is driven by an exceptional team. We want to extend our highest praise and gratitude to our Program Coordinator, April Morrison, and her phenomenal support team, Nyla Knox and Martina Harris. Their dedication, passion, and tireless efforts provided our students with an incredibly engaging, safe, and deeply relevant learning environment every single day.
A Community of Support
An initiative of this magnitude succeeds only when a community rallies together. We are incredibly grateful to our core partners and champions who made this summer possible:
- The Scotlandville Magnet High Leadership Team: Thank you for your continued hospitality and partnership in serving as our exceptional host site.
- Senator Regina Ashford-Barrow: We extend a special thank you for your enduring advocacy and steadfast support of the fellowship program.
- Our BRSTEM Parents and Guardians: Thank you for your daily commitment, ensuring your children were present, focused, and ready to learn each morning.
We are immensely proud of the focus, grit, and curiosity our students demonstrated over these past four weeks. We look forward to witnessing their continued journey as they step into their roles as the next generation of STEM pioneers.
With Sincere Appreciation to Our Key Financial Supporters:
The Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation • ExxonMobil