Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Accepting Applications for Summer
Learning Opportunities in Entrepreneurship, STEM
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has opened applications for two of its summer learning
opportunities, the Appalachian Entrepreneurship Academy (AEA) and the Appalachian STEM Academy at
Oak Ridge. The programs are free, all‐inclusive learning experiences that help prepare high school and
middle school students and teachers in Appalachian West Virginia and beyond for future opportunities
in entrepreneurship and STEM.
The Appalachian Entrepreneurship Academy (AEA) is an experiential learning opportunity to help
prepare the next generation of entrepreneurial thinkers and leaders. High school students will
participate in educational workshops designed to spark creativity and develop essential entrepreneurial
skills, concluding with final capstone pitches of entrepreneurial ideas students develop to strengthen
communities and address economic challenges in Appalachia. AEA will be held from July 6‐19, 2024, at
Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina.
The Appalachian STEM Academy has pioneered access to STEM‐related research opportunities for high
school and middle school students and high school teachers across Appalachia for 30+ years. Students
will collaborate with award‐winning scientists at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory on guided group
science, math, and computer science technology research projects, while teachers develop STEMrelated
curriculum with expert science practitioners. Programming will be held at Oak Ridge Associated
Universities in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
- Middle School STEM Academy Session 1: July 6‐12, 2024
- Middle School STEM Academy Session 2: July 13‐19, 2024
- High School STEM Academy: July 6‐19, 2024
Applications for both opportunities are due February 2, 2024. More information about the programs
and application process is available at www.arc.gov/STEM and www.arc.gov/AEA.