FA Junior Among NJ Top STEM Scholars
According to the Governor’s STEM Scholars website, New Jersey boasts the biggest concentration of scientists and engineers per square mile in the world.
And one of them is a junior at FA Collegiate.
Hobbes Chukumba, FA Class of 2024, is one of just 128 students across the state selected as a STEM Scholar.
Interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) since middle school, Hobbes is a member of Honors Council, National Honors Society and Student Government. He aspires to attend MIT and is launching a STEM club at Collegiate to provide more opportunities for classmates to explore STEM research and careers.
A passionate musician – Hobbes plays bass, flute, piano, ukulele and is learning trumpet and violin – he wants to develop a prosthetic to enable injured people to regain the ability to play musical instruments.
“What I want to do is help make life easier for people,” he said. “I want to help people really enjoy their lives.”
Collegiate teachers have encouraged him to pursue STEM opportunities, Hobbes said. Vianney Anzures “is constantly on the lookout for programs that help me achieve my goals,” he said; and Dr. Laura Bloom, a STEM professional, has shared her expertise “and is always willing to help.”
The STEM Scholars program is a partnership among the Research & Development Council of New Jersey, the Governor’s Office, the Office of the Governor, the Department of Education, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, and the state’s leading research companies.
Scholars are introduced to the New Jersey STEM economy through symposiums, field trips and site visits, master classes, and conversations with STEM leaders. Working with college teams and STEM professionals, each scholar participates in a research project during the year-long program.
In recent months, Hobbes has visited tech sites across New Jersey, including Princeton Plasma Physics Lab,New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Rowan University. He is working on a research project focused on improving use of helpful smart technology – apps, drones or bots – connecting residents to government resources and services and will present findings next month at Stevens Institute of Technology.
