Last year in Ecuador as George Herrara Ortiz packed his bags to leave for the 2015 National Youth Science Camp, he found out that an issue with his visa would prevent him from attending. But on Wednesday, grinning ear-to-ear, he arrived at Yeager Airport with his new fellow campers to attend this year's program.
Herrara Ortiz is among an exclusive group of delegates who will attend the 2016 National Youth Science Camp held at Camp Pocahontas in Thornwood. For the next month, they will explore and prepare for careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and other related professions through hands-on learning experiences and a lecture series. Additionally, the delegates will have the opportunity to participate in outdoor adventure activities including backpacking, mountain biking, spelunking and rock-climbing.
"I've been excited since last year," Herrara laughed.
He is interested in astronomy but plans to pursue a career in computer programming.
Two delegates are selected to attend the National Youth Science Camp from each of the 50 states and Washington, D.C., and several more from eight additional countries: Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Brazil and Bolivia. Most are recent high school graduates with a strong interest in pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers.
Drew Gupta, representing West Virginia, graduated this year from George Washington High School. He will attend Yale University in the fall and plans to study public health on a premedical pathway.
"What really struck my interest was the West Virginia water crisis," Gupta said. "A lot of my peers weren't ready for it and they had trouble coping with it because they had no idea how to respond to such an event."
He believes that in situations such as this, the youth population is more vulnerable and likely to be affected by these events.
According to the program's website, delegates have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, leadership in school and community activities, and a genuine interest in the sciences.
"When they leave, they think of West Virginia as their second home," said the director of the National Youth Science Camp, John Giroir. "We are hopeful that they will make a positive impact on the world like so many of our alumni and past participants already have."
Alumni include Marissa Mayer, the CEO of Yahoo; Wes Bush, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Northrop Grumman Corporation; and Dr. Rudolph Tanzi, a scientist who has dedicated his career to finding a cure for Alzheimer's. Tanzi was listed as a TIME 100 in 2015.
"If it wasn't for the National Youth Science Camp, where I represented the state of Rhode Island, where I grew up, I may have just - I probably would have become a clinician, treating patients, which would have been fine, but it wouldn't have been what I'm doing now," Tanzi previously told the Charleston Gazette-Mail. "I give a lot of credit to the National Youth Science Camp for where I am today."
As delegates arrived at the airport, they quickly became friends, congregating near the baggage claim, checking in and attaching name-tags to their shirts.
"Can we have a science camp rap battle?" Someone asked in reference to a YouTube video as a group of delegates congregated around a phone to watch.
Among those watching the video were twins Erin and Samantha Harper of New Hampshire. Their mother attended the National Youth Science Camp more than 30 years ago.
They grew up going to National Youth Science Camp reunions with her, and said she inspired them to want to attend.
"I think I've known that I've wanted to apply for a while now," said Erin Harper. "Probably for like ten years," her sister chimed in.
Erin Harper will attend The University of Edinburgh in Scotland to study biology this fall. Samantha Harper will study biology and mathematics at the University of St. Andrews, also in Scotland.
Both graduated from the Academy for Science and Design in Nashua, New Hampshire.
"I'm really interested in a lot of different things and I know that being here will give me access to so many different people and ideas, as well as a community that loves math and science and loves learning," Samantha said.
Campers were to spend Wednesday night at the University of Charleston and wake up at 7 a.m. Thursday for their first lecture by Paul Hill, chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, and a tour of UC's School of Pharmacy.
Thursday afternoon, they will board the buses that will take them to Camp Pocahontas.
The delegates will travel to Washington, D.C., later in the program for a luncheon with members of the U.S. Senate.
Reach Jennifer Gardner at jennifer.gardner@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5102 or follow @jennc_gardner on Twitter.