Ron Clark Academy Students Head to Stem Cell Science Camp

A dozen Ron Clark Academy (RCA) students will spend five exciting days this summer at a special science camp.  Pioneering educators and scientists have teamed up to launch Generation Acceleration: Future Scientists Stem Cell Camp in Madison, WI that will introduce students to a variety of careers in the rapidly growing field of regenerative biology.  

The University of Wisconsin–Madison is the birthplace of human embryonic stem cell research and scientists connected with the university and the new Morgridge Institute for Research will welcome students from RCA during the week of July 12. The Georgia middle school students will be paired with students from the UW–Madison School of Education’s  PEOPLE Program, which also works to advance academic achievement among students of color and from families with low incomes.

Although they hail from different hometowns, the 24 students selected to attend the Morgridge Institute’s Generation Acceleration: Future Scientists’ Stem Cell Camp all share a love of science and learning. Together, they will spend three and a half days on campus learning a variety of laboratory techniques and meeting with world-class scientists. Laboratory activities will include culturing and maintaining human pluripotent stem cells and understanding the process of directing “blank slate” cells into specialized heart muscle cells, pancreatic cells and neural cells.

The twelve RCA students selected by their Science Teacher, Ken Townsel to participate in the camp include: rising 8^th graders - Morgan Fambro, Kennedy Guest-Pritchett, Jordan Jones-Wright, Arsene Lakpa, Devin LeMaitre, Kamran Sadiq, and Onyx Simpson; and rising 7^th graders – Nadia Lowe, Imani Moss, Blessid Ogedebe, Nissaba Stover, and James Williams.  Students will be accompanied to the camp by Townsel and RCA’s Language Arts Teacher, Susan Barnes.

Students from the PEOPLE Program who will meet up with RCA students include: rising 8^th graders - Brandon Alvarez-Carrera, Haley Parker, Maame Brewoo, Julius Morris, Caleb Bell, Samuel Tazifua, Austin Obodo, Mariah Ortega-Carr, Cortez McNair, Kenny Xiong, and Nasitta Keita.

To learn more about the PEOPLE Program visit - www.peopleprogram.wisc.edu.

To learn more about the Morgridge Institute for Research visit - www.discovery.wisc.edu.