Hendry-Glades Top Students Visit Orlando

LABELLE, FL. -- Florida’s top performing STEM students were recently recognized as Sunshine State Scholars and given the opportunity to attend a two-day event in Orlando, February 21 – 22, 2013. Each school district throughout Florida selected their top 11th grade student based on their academic achievement in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). 

From Hendry and Glades county, were 11th grade students Sade Awe from Clewiston, and Mattie Bass from Moore Haven.

These students, along with their parents and a teacher chosen by each student, were invited to participate in the annual Sunshine State Scholars program. The Sunshine State Scholars program is sponsored by the Florida Education Foundation, in collaboration with the State University System of Florida, the Florida College System, and the Florida Department of Education.

Among those being honored this year were 17 students from the small and rural school districts participating in the FloridaLearns Stem Scholars Initiative for Gifted and Talented Students. (Photo above)

The project is focused on affording increased access to rigorous STEM courses, providing collaborative problem-solving experiences, and ensuring students are well-informed about STEM career options.

In addition to recognizing their academic success, the Sunshine State Scholars program gave these STEM students the opportunity to meet directly with highly successful professionals from STEM-related industries in Florida, and with recruiters from Florida’s finest colleges and universities. 

During the event, the students heard about special programs of study and industry internship opportunities, learned about some of the latest innovations and discoveries in STEM-related research, were inspired by personal success stories from leaders in Florida’s STEM industry, and were actively recruited to become part of Florida’s future talented workforce.