Valencia High School student Irene Pan has been selected as one of just 112 delegates — and one of only two from California — to attend the 2025 National Youth Science Camp, a residential summer program for high-achieving STEAM students held in the mountains of West Virginia.
On Wednesday, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced the selection of Irene and fellow delegate Uzochi Orji, a senior at Murrieta Mesa High School in the Murrieta Valley Unified School District, as California’s representatives at the 62nd annual camp. The students were chosen based on their academic achievements and demonstrated proficiency in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
From July 10 through Aug. 2, the delegates — representing all 50 U.S. states and nine countries in the Western Hemisphere — will participate in lectures and workshops led by renowned STEAM experts, along with outdoor activities designed to give students a jumpstart on changing the world for good while building lasting friendships.
“These two exemplary students are spearheading the future of our state in technology and industry by pursuing their interests in STEAM and are representing California as young researchers and as community leaders,” Thurmond said. “I am confident they will continue to contribute meaningfully to the scientific community, to our state and to our future. I am immensely proud of them for their academic achievements and selection as California’s delegates to the National Youth Science Camp.”
A rising senior at Valencia High in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, Irene was recently named Outstanding Chemistry Student by the Orange County section of the American Chemical Society. Last summer, she completed a bioengineering internship at UC Riverside, where she worked with cutting-edge research technologies in the university’s bioengineering lab.
Driven by a passion to improve access to medical treatment, Irene plans to pursue a career in neuroscience research to help expand therapies for neurodegenerative diseases in underrepresented communities.
Irene has also excelled in numerous academic competitions, earning a silver medal at the U.S. Medical and Disease Olympiad. She has served as co-captain of Valencia’s academic decathlon team and held leadership roles in the Future Business Leaders of America, including national parliamentarian, Southern Section officer and president of her school’s chapter.
The National Youth Science Camp is hosted by the National Youth Science Academy, a nonprofit organization committed to challenging and inspiring future STEAM leaders through immersive learning, mentorship and adventure-based programming.
Here are the other stories we’re following this week:
- Students in OCDE’s Connections program — specifically the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Adult Transition Program — are gaining real-world construction experience by converting a cargo container into a two-bedroom tiny home for a local family in need.
- After joining the Laguna Beach Unified School District last month, Superintendent Jason Glass recently spoke with the Daily Pilot to share his goals of meeting the needs of students in the community and embracing new technologies to enhance learning.
- Thanks to a partnership with Google, more than 1,000 students in the Anaheim Union High School District have earned industry-recognized credentials in subjects like data analytics and project management.
- After exceeding their goals in the STEAM Race to Space Reading Challenge last October, 12 Orange County students earned the chance to tour NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, where the prize winners got a behind-the-scenes look at cutting-edge technologies and space missions.
- Arts on the Move, a free community exhibit on display at Bowers Museum through July 18, is showcasing expressive artwork by K-12 students and artists with disabilities across Orange County.
- Starting in the 2025-26 academic year, school districts must let students and families know about their eligibility to receive free money through college savings accounts via CalKIDS, the California Kids Investment and Development Savings program.
- The Orange Unified School District is exploring options to consolidate four of its school campuses in order to create more equitable class sizes throughout the district while dealing with declining enrollment.
- Tuition rates may increase for new University of California students starting in the 2027-28 academic year pending a decision by the system’s Board of Regents.
- In order to help students better prepare for the changing workforce through its academic programs, the UC system has created a labor market data tool, mapping where tens of thousands of alumni work throughout the state and the skills their employees are looking for.
- In order to ensure the Parks Junior High School community in Fullerton is better prepared in case of a crisis, Principal Robin Mundschau has been actively involved in routinely guiding students through emergency drills and training staff on managing potential evacuations and lockdowns.
- The Associated Press reported the U.S. Supreme Court has voted to allow the U.S. Department of Education to proceed with laying off nearly 1,400 staff members and start reallocating its funds to other federal agencies.
- Enrollment in California charter schools has grown to nearly 728,000 students while overall public school enrollment has seen a significant decline, according to data from EdSource.
- After previously withholding more than $6 billion in federal funds for after-school, summer, adult literacy and English language programs, the U.S. Department of Education announced on Friday that it will release $1.3 billion in funds for after-school programs.
- Five teams of students from Aliso Viejo and Capistrano Valley recently got to design homes and practice their carpentry skills in the annual Junior Builder Program and Design Competition organized by the Building Industry Association of Southern California.
- Newly released California Department of Education data has revealed that 3,000 teachers have been added to classrooms across the state since the 2019-20 school year, with student-to-administrator ratios also showing improvement.
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