Appalachian Regional Commission
A residential, hands-on STEM program run since 1990 by the Appalachian Regional Commission and hosted by Oak Ridge Associated Universities in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where high school students work alongside Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers and middle school students complete group research projects in science, math, and computer science. Open to current 6th-8th graders, 9th-11th graders (age 16 by program start), and STEM high school teachers from Appalachia; round-trip travel, lodging, meals, and supplies are covered. Summer 2027 sessions run July 10-23, 2027 with applications due December 4, 2026.