Scripps Research selects high school summer interns for 15th annual Kenan Fellows program
Nine-week program to include laboratory skills ‘boot camp’ and conclude with celebration reuniting former participants from as far back as 2005
May 03, 2019
JUPITER, FL — Eleven students from high schools across Palm Beach County will join biomedical research laboratories at Scripps Research in Jupiter, Florida this summer as part of the institute’s 15th annual high school student internship program.
The Kenan Fellows, so named in acknowledgement of the longstanding support from the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust, represent high schools throughout Palm Beach County, including Palm Beach Gardens, Riviera Beach, Wellington, Lake Worth, West Palm Beach and Boca Raton.
Working alongside Scripps Research scientists, Kenan Fellows make important contributions to the institute’s research initiatives while learning critical scientific skills and gaining valuable laboratory experience. Interns assist with research on diverse topics ranging from neuroscience and cancer biology to medicinal chemistry and virology. Each Kenan Fellow is assigned a specific research project by their faculty mentor and presents the results of their studies at an all-day seminar on the final day.
Prior to their arrival on campus, all Kenan Fellows participate in a one-week laboratory skills boot camp, as part of a partnership with Palm Beach State College. Held at its Palm Beach Gardens campus, the boot camp is designed to better prepare students for the eight-week internship experience.
“The Biotechnology program at Palm Beach State College is pleased to partner with Scripps Research to provide laboratory skills training for the summer high school student interns,” says Edison Mejia, Biotechnology Program Instructor at Palm Beach State. “This one-week, intensive training is the first step toward a productive internship. Interns become familiar with basic lab safety, scientific calculations, experimental design, along with data collection and analysis. This program helps make their time in the laboratory more efficient.”
Since its inception, more than 180 high school students and science teachers have completed the prestigious summer internships. In addition to conducting research, interns attend special weekly seminars presented by Scripps Research postdoctoral scientists and graduate students, offering an in-depth look at the latest science taking place on the Florida campus.
“The summer internship program at Scripps Research provides high school students the opportunity to experience authentic, cutting-edge scientific research,” says Jennifer Davis, Secondary Science Program Planner at the Palm Beach County School District. “The skills and relationships built through these experiences will serve these students in their future STEM careers. We are so lucky to be able to continue this partnership with Scripps Research.”
In addition to student presentations, the final week of this summer’s internship program will also include the first-ever Kenan Fellows reunion celebration, a special reception and dinner event open to all current and former participants of the program. Alumni are invited to return to the Scripps Research campus in Jupiter to reconnect with fellow alumni and faculty mentors, and to meet members of the Kenan Charitable Trust who have made this program possible since 2005.
2019 Scripps Research Kenan Fellows
- Diane Altidor, Palm Beach Central High School (Ja Laboratory)
- Lynn Deng, Suncoast Community High School (Scampavia and Spicer Laboratory)
- Jacob Eisenberg, Palm Beach Central High School (Disney Laboratory)
- Jonathan R. Hung, Suncoast Community High School (Huang Lab)
- Maxwell LeGates, Wellington High School (Renata Laboratory)
- Elizabeth Lekah, Spanish River Community High School (Disney Laboratory)
- Osinachi Nwosu, Lake Worth Community High School (Scampavia and Spicer Laboratory)
- Alexcia Plunket, Lake Worth Community High School (Bannister Laboratory)
- Samay Saxena, William T. Dwyer High School (Tomchik Laboratory)
- Charlotte Silver, Saint Andrew’s School (Valente Laboratory)
- Joel Yearick, Suncoast Community High School (Hansen Laboratory)
- Mulan Yin, Boca Raton Community High School (Karbstein Laboratory)
For more information, contact press@scripps.edu