A rising seventh-grader at W.A. Perry Middle School has been named a 2024-2025 National Aerospace Connections in Education (ACE) Student of the Year by the Civil Air Patrol. Shamani Jenkins is one of only four students in the United States to receive the recognition.

The ACE program offers “a grade-specific, sequential curriculum designed to spark early interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) disciplines and careers.” National ACE Students of the Year are recognized for their enthusiasm, leadership and engagement with the program.

Shamani is a student in Richland One’s middle school BLAST (Building Lasting Aerospace and STEM Trajectories) magnet program at W.A. Perry. She says she hopes to one day become an astronaut or scientist.

“I like aerospace and STEM because

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