OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. — Emmalyn Otzenberger from Okaloosa STEMM Academy has been named one of the Top 300 Junior Innovators in the 2024 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, a national STEM competition for middle school students.
The competition, founded and produced by Society for Science, is regarded as the nation’s premier science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) contest for middle school students.
Selected from nearly 2,000 competitors across the country, Emmalyn is now in the running to become one of the Top 30 finalists, which will be announced on September 18, 2024.
The competition, which aims to inspire young scientists, engineers, and innovators to address significant global challenges, covers project topics ranging from microplastics and road safety to breast cancer research and artificial intelligence.
The Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge selects its Top 300 from a pool of middle school students who have excelled in local Society-affiliated science fairs.
The 30 finalists will be revealed on September 18. Each will compete for awards such as the $25,000 Thermo Fisher Scientific ASCEND Award, the $10,000 Department of Defense STEM Talent Award, and other notable prizes.
Okaloosa STEMM Academy is at 379 Edge Avenue in Valparaiso.
