How hands-on STEM helped shape a future cancer researcher

Anala Beevers, a 17-year-old New Orleans student accepted to Howard University on a full scholarship, credits family support and STEM NOLA for helping turn early reading ability into a path toward cancer and genetics research. Her story highlights the role hands-on STEM programs can play for gifted students, especially in under-resourced communities. Why it matters: - Anala Beevers’ path shows how early identification, family support and hands-on STEM can help a gifted child turn ability into opportunity. - The story also points to a bigger gap: students with strong potential can still miss out without access to practical science learning and mentoring. - STEM NOLA’s reach suggests that community-based programs can move more children toward STEM careers, especially in under-resourced neighborhoods. What happened: - Anala Beevers, a 17-year-old New Orleans high school graduate, was accepted to Howard University at 16. - Howard awarded Beevers a Karsh STEM Scholarship that covers tuition, fees, room, board and books, while also providing mentoring, summer research internships and a mandatory summer bridge program. - Beevers plans to study biology at Howard University this fall and pursue cancer and genetics research. - Beevers’ family credits STEM NOLA, now expanded nationally as STEM Global Action, with helping shape her academic path. The details: - Beevers was reading before she could walk steadily, and her parents say she was identifying letters by around 12 months. - By 15 months, Beevers was reading sight words and pointing out words on a TV guide. - By age 2, Beevers was a fluent reader, knew U.S. state capitals, knew some foreign capitals, learned numbers in Spanish and showed an early interest in astronomy and dinosaurs. - At age 4, Beevers scored a 145 IQ, received a MENSA invitation and skipped a grade after being identified as gifted. - Beevers became a straight-A student at Patrick Taylor Science and Technology Academy, which requires testing for admission. - Beevers started attending STEM NOLA’s STEM Saturdays at age 4. - Around 7th or 8th grade, Beevers moved into the STEM Fellows program for high school students. - Beevers took part in medical sessions at LSU and projects with the Army Corps of Engineers. - Beevers said one STEM Fellows session in aerospace manufacturing let her build rocket parts using community college tools. - Beevers missed only two weekly STEM NOLA sessions from age 4 through high school, one for a wedding and one for the flu. - Beevers says the program emphasized doing science with her hands instead of only hearing lectures. - Beevers’ ambitions shifted over time from nursing to astronaut dreams to biomedical engineering before settling on cancer and genetics. - An AP Biology class and a visiting professor’s discussion of cancer mechanisms helped Beevers connect genetics and cancer research. Between the lines: - Beevers’ story reflects how hands-on exposure can turn broad curiosity into a focused academic plan. - STEM NOLA appears to have mattered as much for confidence and communication as for content knowledge. - Landon Beevers says the program helped his daughter, once shy and quiet, become more comfortable speaking in public. - Dr. Calvin Mackie’s message that being smart is not enough and that students must also communicate their ideas appears to have stuck with Beevers. - The family’s emphasis on Black pride and self-belief also shaped how Beevers approached school and public expectations. - Dr. Mackie and Tracy Mackie seeded STEM NOLA with a significant portion of their own savings after their sons wanted more hands-on science than their classes offered. - The program grew with support from sponsors including Entergy Corporation, Chevron, Boeing, Ochsner Health and AT&T. - STEM NOLA launched in churches and community centers across under-resourced neighborhoods and later expanded in 2021 under the STEM Global Action brand. - STEM Global Action says its programs have reached 250,000 K-12 students, 30,000 families, 5,500 community and professional volunteers and 3,000 college students. - Dr. Mackie says many children have strong potential but lack the support needed to get on a path to success. What’s next: - Beevers will begin at Howard University this fall. - She will study biology with the goal of entering cancer and genetics research. - STEM Global Action is continuing to push for broader access to hands-on STEM education for children and families. The bottom line: - Beevers’ rise from gifted toddler to Howard-bound student is a case study in what happens when talent meets access, mentorship and practical STEM education.