Rhode Island Students Selected as State Delegates for Prestigious 2025 National Youth Science Camp
Published on Thursday, March 27, 2025
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Governor Dan McKee, Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green, and the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) today announced that Milo Baumgartner, a senior at East Greenwich High School (EGHS), and Sadie McCann, a junior at North Kingstown High School (NKHS), have been selected as the two Rhode Island state delegates who will attend the National Youth Science Camp (NYSCamp) in 2025. This prestigious honor recognizes both students’ outstanding achievements in STEM research and their leadership in their high school graduating classes. The announcement comes as Governor McKee and Commissioner Infante-Green place an emphasis on math learning and instruction statewide as part of the Math Matters RI campaign.
“Milo and Sadie’s selection as the Ocean State’s delegates to the prestigious NYSCamp makes all of us across the state very proud,” said Governor Dan McKee. “Their accomplishments are exemplary, and this recognition is much deserved. STEM education is critical for our modern society and supports important skill development needed for current and future workforce success. I commend Milo and Sadie, and the East Greenwich and North Kingstown communities, on this honor. We will continue to share the message that Math Matters!”
Hosted in the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia since 1963, the National Youth Science Camp provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for two delegates from each state to exchange ideas with leading scientists and other professionals from academic, governmental, and corporate worlds. The NYSCamp is a broad science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) experience where students participate in a science policy panel discussion, world-class lectures, directed studies, and seminars.
“Milo and Sadie’s passion and drive for science serve as an inspiration for many across the state and underpin our statewide commitment to promoting excellence in math,” said Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. “Their commitment and accomplishments show that their opportunity to attend the renowned NYSCamp is well deserved. I congratulate Milo and Sadie on this exciting recognition and wish them continued success as they move forward in their academic and professional journeys.”
“Congratulations to Milo and Sadie on this esteemed accomplishment,” said Board of Education Chair Michael Grey. “Your selection as delegates to NYSCamp not only demonstrates your academic excellence but also your strong dedication to your futures and your communities. Best wishes, and I cannot wait to see what you do next.”
“I would like to extend my congratulations to Milo and Sadie on this incredible honor,” said Chair of the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education Patti DiCenso. “Their devotion to the field of STEM and determination to set themselves up for success is inspiring. Best of luck on all of your future endeavors.”
A passionate STEM student, Baumgartner has set himself up for a career in the field by excelling in all of the science classes he has taken in high school, including two Advanced Placement (AP) courses and through offerings made possible through RIDE’s All Course Network (ACN) which included programs at the Providence Public Library and New England Institute of Technology. Further, he is the leader of Science Olympiad at EGHS – where they achieved sixth place at the state competition last year, vice president of the school’s National Honor Society chapter, and a captain on the Mock Trial team. Baumgartner believes strongly in the necessity for science to maintain a “healthy society with the potential for progress,” and has been lauded by EGHS Science Department Chair Nicholas Rath as typifying “everything we try to teach our younger generation – courtesy, respect, diligence and perseverance.” Baumgartner intends to major in aerospace engineering.
“Milo’s selection to the National Youth Science Camp is a testament to the power of student-driven learning and the strength of East Greenwich Public Schools' Vision of a Graduate,” said Dr. Patricia Page, EGHS Principal. "His intellectual curiosity, leadership both in and beyond the classroom, and passion for science embody the qualities we strive to cultivate in all of our graduates. We are proud of his achievements and excited to see all that he will accomplish in the future."
Led by an “intrinsic desire to learn and grow,” McCann’s love for science and creativity has led her to the NYSCamp. According to NKHS Engineering Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher and 2023 Milken Educator Malaree Shields, McCann is an organized leader in all of the work she does in and outside of the classroom. She is taking courses in NKHS’ rigorous Engineering CTE program, where she is able to apply concepts she has learned from other classes to her assignments; the Girls Get Math program at Brown University’s Institute for Computational and Experimental Research and Mathematics; and the Rhode Island Nano-Bio Engineering Academy with the University of Rhode Island. She is also a member of the FIRST Tech Challenge robotics team, where she has served as an outreach team lead spearheading STEM Discovery Packs for students in grades three through five. McCann is also an active member of the Technology Student Association, where she has been able to compete at the national level in fashion design events. She also enjoys writing historical fantasy short stories, which she has entered into competitions for and won recognition.
“Sadie McCann’s selection as one of Rhode Island’s delegates for the National Youth Science Camp is a well-deserved honor that reflects her dedication, leadership, and passion for STEM,” said North Kingstown Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Duva. “As a highly respected student leader at North Kingstown High School, her active participation in the Engineering CTE program, Robotics Challenge, and Technology Student Association showcases her exceptional talent and commitment to innovation. We are incredibly proud of Sadie’s achievements and have no doubt that she will represent Rhode Island with excellence. Her future is bright, and we look forward to seeing all she will accomplish in the years ahead.”
The 2025 National Youth Science Camp is slated to take place in July. More information about the program can be found on the National Youth Science Academy website.
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