Florence Middle School student selected for Appalachian STEM Academy

FLORENCE, Ala. — A Florence Middle School Student is celebrating a prestigious honor.

Miranda Padgett has been selected for the Appalachian STEM Academy. The exciting opportunity allows Padgett to join 51 other middle school students across the region to explore the cutting-edge world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The Academy will provide hands-on experiences as students tour research divisions and energy facilities at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and engage in environmental and physical research within the Tennessee Valley Corridor.

Padgett will have the chance to meet internationally recognized scientists and collaborate with peers from 13 Appalachian states.  With a focus on emerging technologies, the Academy will challenge students to think critically, solve problems, and design hands-on models.

The opportunity will allow Padgett to expand her horizons and foster her academic and professional growth in STEM fields.

By Mollie Smith