Ocean City Teen Chosen For Governor's STEM Scholar Program

OCEAN CITY, NJ — An Ocean City High School student was selected as one of the Governor's STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) students in their 2022-23 class, the program announced.

Madeline Heng is one of 128 New Jersey high school and college students in this year's program, its largest class since it was founded in 2013. Read more about Heng and her accomplishments in her bio here.

The Governor's STEM Scholars is a public-private partnership between the Research & Development Council of New Jersey, the Office of the Governor, the New Jersey Department of Education, the New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education and public and private research institutions based in New Jersey.

The program "believes that maintaining a pipeline of talented individuals is critical to maintaining excellence in innovation," it said. It was created to engage the next generation of research and innovation leaders in the state's vast STEM economy early, according to the program.

According to the program:

Throughout the academic year, Heng will participate in four conferences to explore different aspects of New Jersey's STEM economy focusing on STEM in government, academia, and
industry. During the 2022-23 programmatic year, these conferences will be held at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University, Rowan University, New Jersey Institute of Technology and Stevens Institute of Technology. Scholars will participate in a research project, led by undergraduate and graduate-level Scholars, that advances the work of New Jersey's research community. Additionally, Scholars will tour New Jersey STEM facilities and laboratories and network with STEM professionals, to gain a 360 degree view of STEM opportunities throughout the state.

She was selected from a pool of more than 600 applicants. Scholars must have at least a 3.5 GPA, be a high school sophomore through doctorial-level student at a New Jersey-based high school or university and demonstrate a passion for STEM.

"New Jersey has always been at the center of innovation excellence and scientific discovery led by some of the world's most talented STEM professionals. The Governor's STEM Scholars looks to secure this legacy into the future by inspiring students who will make up the next generation of these scientists, engineers, and innovators. As we welcome 128 exceptional high school and college STEM students into our 2023 Governor's STEM Scholars class, we look forward to seeing the impact they make on the Garden State, the country and across the globe," said Anthony Cicatiello, President of the Research & Development Council of New Jersey.