Adventure Science Center Announces 2008 ‘Science Ambition Mission’ Participants

Twelve Metro Students to Spend a Week with top MIT Scientists

Nashville, TN (February 14, 2008) - Instead of slipping into a bathing suit and running to the beach, some of Nashville’s top 8th and 9th grade students will be putting on their thinking caps and hitting the books during their spring vacation. These students aren’t being punished; instead they have been invited to spend a portion of their Spring Break working with some of our country’s top scientists during the third annual Science Ambition Mission to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Twelve students from Metro Nashville Public Schools will participate in the Third Annual Science Ambition Mission scheduled for March 20 - 24, 2008. During this trip, students will have the opportunity to explore science like never before by interacting with scientists and MIT students, touring working laboratories, participating in lab activities, and getting a first hand look at what it’s like to be a college student by touring the MIT campus and visiting a dormitory. The 12 program participants, and their adult mentors, will also have the opportunity to visit the MIT Museum.

Program participants will gather for a kick-off ceremony at the Adventure Science Center on Saturday, February 16 at 9 a.m. Students will participate in team building activities with other participants and hear from ASC educators about how to prepare for their trip to MIT.

“The Science Ambition Mission was created three years ago to inspire students to consider a career in science,” said Sara Baker, Science Coordinator for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. “During an era where student’s interest in science is fading, this unique program gets Metro Nashville students excited about the opportunities available to them within the scientific field. We are grateful to the Adventure Science Center for their dedication to our schools.”

The program was founded by a former Adventure Science Center youth volunteer Kevin Caldwell. Caldwell, now a senior at MIT, will serve as the Center’s campus representative for the third year.

Southwest Airlines will provide free air transportation for Science Ambition Mission participants and their mentors. The remainder of the trip, including ground transportation, hotel, food and program expenses, will be paid by Adventure Science Center.

“Adventure Science Center is committed to bringing science to life for everyone within the community,” said Susan Duvenhage, President & CEO of Adventure Science Center. “The Science Ambition Mission allows us to take this commitment to a new level by placing some of Nashville’s brightest students in real-life laboratories and scientific situations. We’re pleased that Southwest Airlines and MIT have teamed up with us again for this very important program.”

More than 450 eighth and ninth grade students were invited to apply for the program based on their exceptional performance in the classroom and results on standardized tests. A selection committee, made up of representatives from Metro Nashville Public Schools and Adventure Science Center, evaluated applications, teacher recommendations, and student essays. The essays described student achievements, extracurricular activities, community service, and plans for participating in future math and science research projects and competitions.

The Adventure Science Center is pleased to announce the students selected for Science Ambition Mission 2008. Below are the 12 participant’s names, as well as a list of honorable mention winners. The school and grade levels are listed with each student’s name:

Science Ambition Trip Participants



Antioch Middle
Dariya Doski - 8

Bellevue Middle
Preston Warfield - 8

Haynes Design Center
Shandreis Hudson - 8

Hillwood High
Margaret Harvey - 9

Hume-Fogg Magnet
Rita Pfeiffer - 9

John Overton High
Christian Mistich - 9

John Trotwood Moore Middle
Hannah Ruth Reinbold - 8
James Wu - 8

Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet
Matthew Brisbane - 9
Ben Gu - 8
Hannah Park - 9

Meigs Magnet Middle
Vikas Kumar - 8

Honorable Mention
Antioch Middle
Okechi Boms - 8

Bellevue Middle
Katherine Hedges - 8
Atsuhito Saito - 8

Croft Middle
Christopher Earnhardt - 8

Goodlettsville Middle
Adreyauna Lewers - 8

Gra-Mar Middle
Aimee Khounmy - 8

John Trotwood Moore Middle
Paige Hansen - 8

Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet
Catherine Ann Caffey - 8
Chris Calhoun - 8
Patrick Gallagher - 9
Rhiannon Hansing - 9
Lauren Lu - 8
Xidi Ma - 9
Bianca Mgbemere - 8
Preston Palm - 8

McGavock High
Corrie Alexander - 9

Meigs Magnet
Alea Tveit - 8
Emily Alsentzer - 8
Shuvajit Das - 8
Sam Randels - 8
Xu Yang - 8



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