An Okaloosa County student has been recognized as one of the top young innovators in the country, earning a spot in a prestigious national science competition.
- Emmalynn Otzenberger, a student at Okaloosa STEMM Academy, has been named one of the Top 300 Junior Innovators in the 2024 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge.
The competition, produced by the Society for Science, aims to recognize middle school students who excel in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
Otzenberger’s project, titled “Cooler House, Less Material,” was selected from nearly 2,000 entries submitted by students across 48 states and U.S. territories. Her achievement puts her in contention for further recognition in the competition.
The Top 300 Junior Innovators now have the opportunity to advance to the next round of the challenge. On September 18, 2024, the competition will announce its Top 30 finalists. These finalists will compete for several awards, including the $25,000 ASCEND Award and the $10,000 Department of Defense (DoD) STEM Talent Award.
- Other prizes include the Lemelson Foundation Invention Award and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Advancement Award.
According to the Society for Science, the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge aims to inspire young scientists, engineers, and innovators to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges. The competition drew entries from 36 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
