ORRUM — A local student recently completed an exciting chapter as an NC Flight Crew participant in the 2023-2024 school year, emerging from the program with more confidence and ideas she can use to make a positive impact on her community.
Zoe Ogan participated in the program which allows participants to explore careers and to engage in fun learning opportunities involving science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Ogan participated in the program during her seventh-grade year at Orrum Middle School in the 2023-2024 academic year.
“I had a great experience with the NC Flight Crew, and I am very proud to be part of the very first one. The first time we all met in person was at the Friday Center in Chapel Hill where all of us flight crew members got a chance to speak on stage in front of the crowd,” Ogan said.
The North Carolina Flight Crew Program “offers participants hands-on STEM experiences, leadership development, STEM career exploration, and the chance to give back and make a real impact,” according to its website.
Ogan said the program helped her network, gain leadership skills and improve her communication skills.
“Being part of the flight crew gave me the opportunity to learn leadership skills, as well as try to get more out of my comfort zone. I've never been a very outgoing or extroverted person but in the group there were many times we went around and shared or talked in front of others. That experience now helps me work around my anxiety when talking to new people or in front of large groups,” she said.
Zoe’s mother, Monica Martin, said she was grateful for the program that helped her daughter grow academically and as a young leader.
“I am extremely proud of Zoe and all her accomplishments. She has always been a very intelligent and caring person who wants to help others. She loves science and discovering new things. This program has encouraged her love of discovery and science, but has also pushed her to grow,” Martin said.
“I am very grateful for the NC Flight Crew program for the opportunities it provided for Zoe and her peers. It is a wonderful program and I hope it continues to help others for many years to come,” she added.
Students who participated in the program were tasked with completing a community project.
“My community project was cleaning up litter around a local bridge. Me and my friends go by this bridge all the time, it's always covered in garbage and we wanted to do something about it,” Ogan said. “There's a large snapping turtle population in my area and many of them often mistake the plastic for food which can be life-threatening. I knew that cleaning up the area would help preserve the different species of plants and all the wildlife.”
Ogan said she thoroughly enjoyed her time in the program and recommended the program to others.
“I feel like this program is very good for kids interested in any type of science, whether it be chemistry, astronomy, physics, etc. There are so many hands-on activities your able to do and you get to help your community in the process,” Ogan said.
PSRC Science Supervisor Susan Miller-Hendrix reflected on her time working with Zoe as the student taught a STEM lesson about owl pellets at the Multilingual STEAM Day in April 2024.
“She has worked very hard throughout the year and has been an asset not only to the NC Flight Crew but also to me in helping me with different STEM events in the district,” Miller-Hendrix said.
“I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Zoe as she will continue to do amazing things. A huge thank you to the NC Afterschool Program for their selection of Zoe and for allowing me to be her mentor here in Robeson County,” she added.