CHATHAM, N.J. – Earlier this week, the Research & Development Council of New Jersey presented their 2019-2020 class of the Governor’s STEM Scholars (GSS). The GSS Advisory Board selected 95 of New Jersey’s best and brightest STEM students to join the sixth GSS class. These scholars come from all corners of the state, including 12 from South Jersey schools in Gloucester, Cumberland, Atlantic, Camden, and Burlington counties.
2019 – 2020 Governor’s STEM Scholars from South Jersey Counties
| Nina Casselberry | Cedar Creek High School |
| Moyinoluwa Akeju | Burlington Township High School |
| David Chen | Lenape High School |
| Tejas Kaushik | Lenape High School |
| Sofia Milone | Bishop Eustace Preparatory School |
| Ava Casale | Our Lady of Mercy Academy |
| Aderonke Adejare | Clearview Regional High School |
| Julia Fleming | Rowan University |
| Katherine Byrne | Clearview Regional High School |
| Bhavana Chamarthi | Kingsway Regional High School |
| Laura Osorno | Rowan University |
| Trang Vu | Rowan University |
The Governor’s STEM Scholars program is a public-private partnership between the R&D Council of New Jersey, the Governor’s Office, the New Jersey Department of Education, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, and some Fortune 500 companies. The partnership is designed to immerse the top STEM talent in grades 10 through the doctoral level in New Jersey’s vast STEM economy and bolster the state’s education and career pipeline.
“These students are the future innovators in STEM,” said Larry O’Connell, chair of the R&D Council, in a press release. “By joining this program, these scholars are getting an introduction to New Jersey’s robust STEM economy. There isn’t another program like it in the country.”
The students chosen to be part of the GSS have demonstrated exceptional performance and leadership in STEM both in their schools and in their communities across the State. They were selected by a six-member Advisory Board that has decades of collective experience with STEM in various fields and disciplines.
“New Jersey is one of the best places in the world to explore a STEM education or career,” said Anthony Cicatiello, president of the R&D Council, in a press release. “The Governor’s STEM Scholars is a truly unique opportunity to get hands-on STEM experience and work side-by-side with industry, government, and academic leaders in a one-of-a-kind environment for innovation.”
The program’s first event of the year will be at Rutgers University on Saturday, September 28. The topic is “STEM in Government” and the scholars will learn from professionals working in cybersecurity, national security, and environmental protection – among other professions. They will also be introduced to the concept of “STEM citizenship,” visit campus research laboratories – such as the Astronomy and Physics Laboratories, the Waksman Institute of Microbiology, and the W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience – and begin working on research projects in a team setting.
Governor’s STEM Scholars Director Dr. Rebecca Lubot said in a press release, “The research component of the program is designed so that the undergraduate and graduate students gain experience mentoring the high school students, in addition to being mentored themselves.” She also noted that the GSS places a special emphasis on encouraging women in STEM. Throughout the remainder of the academic year, the scholars will continue their research project work, obtain internships, participate in field trips and “in conversation” events, and network with STEM thought-leaders from across the state.
To learn more about the Governor’s STEM Scholars program, visit: www.govstemscholars.com.
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