Science fairs and competitions were the norm for Vinicia Kim, who grew up in Guam with a deep passion for science, technology, engineering and math. But as she advanced to high school, the U.S. territory island — located roughly 1,500 miles east of the Philippines — soon became too small for Kim’s growing interests, underscoring the need for this summer science boot camp program.

“Guam doesn’t have a lot of STEM opportunities at all,” Kim said. “Even at the University of Guam, it’s so small that we barely have any basic laboratory [equipment], like what other universities would have.”

When the 17-year-old student learned of a highly competitive U.S. summer science program, she applied. Little did she know that she would not only be accepted, but flown to the small, rural town of Chadron, nestled in the sandhills of western Nebraska.

In June, Kim began the biochemistry summer science boot camp program at SSP International, a nonprofit that has offered residential summer STEM research opportunities to teenagers since 1959. She and 35 other rising seniors spent five weeks at Chadron State College, conducting research with professors and graduate students to help prevent fungal infection of agricultural crops.

The college is one of 14 universities across the nation that housed 600 students this summer to tackle research projects in fields like astrophysics and cell biology. Chadron State — a school of roughly 2,000 students — joined the organization’s list of partners this year to expand the biochemistry program, which also takes place at Purdue and Indiana universities.

Rachel Avard, a biology professor at Framingham State University in Massachusetts, worked with SSP International students at Purdue University last year. This summer, she came to Chadron for the same reason: to help aspiring scientists gain key STEM skills, along with personal growth and preparation for college.

“For many of them, this is the first time in their lives that they haven’t been ‘the best’ immediately walking in the door,” she said. “We’re really able to hold their hand through the process of learning how to grow these skills and how to work in a team, how to adjust to failure, how to work through all these challenges.”

Read the full article about SSP International's summer science boot camp by Lauren Wagner at The 74.