NBC29 WVIR Charlottesville, VA News, Sports and WeatherScience Camp Hosts Some of Virginia's Brightest Stars

Science Camp Hosts Some of Virginia's Brightest Stars

Some middle school students from across the state have made their way to the University of Virginia for the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp where they're designing everything from spacesuits to building rockets. The two week camp ends this Friday and looking back campers, including 12-year-old William Wilson, said they've learned a lot.

"We do a lot of math and science and different types of experiments," Wilson said.

Supplied with rubber bands and hooks, the students incorporated engineering with the human body by making a simple prosthesis.

Katherine Phetxumphou is a camp councilor and recently graduated from UVA with a degree in chemical engineering.

"They're working on bio-mechanics. Learning about muscular and joint movements," Phetxumphou said.

The summer science camp is hosted by UVA's Center for Diversity in Engineering. The goal is to engage students' minds and maybe set them on a career path in the sciences. Thirteen-year-old, Abby Westfall, said she's still deciding exactly what she wants to pursue in the future.

"I might major in chemistry or something like that," Westfall said.

They are some of Virginia's brightest 6th, 7th and 8th graders. It's a competitive program. More than 400 students applied but only 50 were accepted.

"We have a very intelligent bunch of students with us. I was surprised the first day we had a lecture class. They were talking about trigonometry and geometry and we don't get those math courses until we get to high school," Phetxumphou said.

Thursday is Space Day. Veteran astronaut and camp founder Bernard Harris will talk to the campers about becoming the first African American in space.