LYNN– This summer, Oakley Whiteside from Lynn, NC will join outstanding elementary school students from across the state to take part in a unique academic and career oriented development experience, the National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF): Pathways to STEM, taking place at Wake Forest University in Winston Salem. 

  

NYLF Pathways to STEM is one of the Envision family of programs (Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. that enable students to explore their interests and experience learning beyond the classroom. 

  

Oakley, child of Joey and Olivia Whiteside, is a rising fourth grader at Tryon Elementary School and maintained straight A’s this school year. He is a Boy Scout in troop 151, member of Tryon First Baptist Church and enjoys soccer, basketball, and baseball. Oakley is most interested in mechanics, motors and how cars work. 

  

“As an alumna of Envision myself, I am excited for Oakley to meet, work, and collaborate with fellow high-aspiring students from other cities and schools,” said Amanda Freitag Thomas, SVP for Envision. “Hands down, my favorite part of attending an Envision program was being with motivated students in an environment designed to help us challenge our assumptions, meet new people, and grow. Creating that same learning environment is a central focus for all of our programs. At NYLF Pathways to STEM, students build the confidence and skills needed to excel in the classroom while gaining exposure to STEM fields and concepts. They learn how to adapt to and communicate in new situations, to new challenges, and with new people, which, given how rapidly the world is changing due to technology and innovation, are essential skills for success.” 

  

Since 1985, Envision programs have served more than 800,000 students in more than 145 countries, with programs designed to help students develop the leadership, scholarship and career skills needed to succeed in today’s competitive college and career landscape. 

 

 

Submitted by 

Rebecca Blair