Jeston Savage will be exposed to new career opportunities
Philadelphia Elementary School student Jeston Savage is headed to a national youth leadership forum in Texas this summer.
Savage, entering fourth grade at Philadelphia Elementary, is raising funds to represent his school and community this summer at the National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF): Pathways to STEM in Houston, TX, from July 8-12.
Savage needs to raise $2,745 in sponsorships to participate in the program, and he is dedicating every dollar he has to ensure he doesn’t miss this unique opportunity.
So far, he has raised $1,410 with the help of his family, friends, neighbors, and community donations, leaving a balance of $1,335 to be paid by July 1. He is currently seeking support from local businesses in Philadelphia.
Penelope Saxton, Savage’s second-grade teacher who nominated him to attend the forum, said that while there, he will spend six days learning to program robotics, training as a doctor, and investigating crime, all while developing 21st Century success skills.
“I nominated Jeston because he was an eager learner in my class,” Saxton said. “He showed he could work well with others, think critically while problem-solving, and, overall, had a hunger for learning. This opportunity will play a part in his educational growth. Jeston has a passion for learning, and I feel that he will be an asset to our community and state as he develops into a fine young man.”
At the forum, Savage will join other students from around the country for an experiential leadership and career exploration program. This experience will allow him to interact with respected professionals in various fields while building relationships with students who could become future colleagues.
“Attending this program will allow me to further my interest in engineering and mathematics and reach my career goals of becoming an engineer,” Savage said.
The NYLF Pathways to STEM offers outstanding elementary school students the chance to explore exciting areas of interest while refining the natural abilities they already possess.
Throughout the day, students delve into STEM careers through various hands-on activities by examining, questioning, researching, creating, investigating, role-playing, exploring, and learning the curriculum while also learning about themselves.
Students will develop and enhance their crime-solving skills in the Crime Scene Investigation: Case of the Missing Ancient Map. Here, young detectives will dive into forensic science to crack a case using fingerprint and blood drop analysis, deductive reasoning, and forensic science to uncover critical clues and identify the guilty party.
In Engineering: Robotics and Programming, future engineers will undertake hands-on design challenges, exploring the engineering design process. To further practice their skills, students will program VEX robots to compete in robotic challenges.
As prospective medical interns in Medicine: The Incredible Human Body, students will explore the human body, focusing on the heart and lungs, and even participate in dissection facilitated by a STEM professional.
The leadership curriculum is the cornerstone of this program experience. Daily interactive learning activities present students with guided practice and individual application in small team settings.
If you are interested in supporting Jeston Savage’s goal to attend the STEM forum, contact his mother, Shanequa Savage, at (601) 504-7296, or contact the NYLF Pathways to STEM at (866) 858-5323 for more information.