WINSTON-SALEM – Haley Madison Darden, a rising 5th grader at Ahoskie Elementary School, was among the outstanding elementary school students from across the nation to take part in a unique academic development experience this summer.

Darden, the daughter of Timothy Darden and granddaughter of Debbie and Willie Darden, all of Ahoskie, attended the National Youth Leadership Forum: Pathways to STEM program that was conducted on college and university campuses from coast to coast.

That forum is designed to inspire students in grades 3-5 to explore life as an engineer, or doctor, or as a law enforcement detective.

The forum that Darden participated in was held July 17-22 on the campus of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem.

“These forums present a great opportunity for high-achieving academic scholars to get outside the classroom and see through hands-on interactive learning how to be innovative and think creatively,” said Andrew Potter, the Chief Academic Officer for the NYLF Pathway to STEM. “These students, who have already proven themselves academically, are challenged to work on real world, student-created projects to bring their studies to life.”

Students attending the program study engineering, medicine, and forensic science in a journey that introduces them to potential college and career paths. Simulation and role-playing exercises also introduces them to team-building, problem-solving presentation skills and goal-setting, all of which are essential for success in the 21st century.

Darden – who is enrolled in the AIG program at Ahoskie Elementary and is also a alumni of the school’s STEM Program as well as an A Honor Roll student – said her goal is to become an engineer. She further stated that the Pathways to STEM program gave her vital insight to that career path.

She was nominated to attend the Pathways to STEM program by Robi Mitchell, her 4th grade Science teacher at Ahoskie Elementary.

Darden thanked her donors that sponsored her trip to Winston-Salem. Those sponsors included Lawrence and Margaret Larabee of Ahoskie, Pat and Lynette Brabble of Ahoskie, Penny Brown of Ahoskie, Shirley Smith of Windsor, Earley & Winborne of Harrellsville, James Earley Jr., Earley Peanut, LLC, T. Coleman/Taylor of Harrellsville, Wayne and Diane Bracy of Florida, Basnight & Company of Ahoskie, and Rachel and Don Jackson of Sneads Ferry.

Since 1985, the NYLF Pathways to STEM program has served more than 800,000 students in more than 145 counties with programs designed to develop the skills they need to succeed in today’s competitive college and career landscape.