SCC students secure prestigious summer research opportunities in STEM fields

Published on May 2, 2024

Somerset Community College (SCC) students Allyson Holman, Gavin Slone, and Connor Denney have been awarded prestigious research opportunities for the summer through paid internships or Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU).

All three students are enrolled in SCC's Math & Science program and have demonstrated exceptional determination and excellence during their time at the SCC.

Allyson Holman, from Corbin, KY, will intern at the Department of Energy at the Savannah River National Laboratory. Her work will involve rating and assessing the risk of Tritium Sensing Technologies for use in commercial fusion power plants.

“I’m excited to see how different laboratories interact with one another. Internships are a great opportunity to get exposed to the different fields of engineering,” said an excited Allyson.

Gavin Slone, also from Corbin, KY, will spend the summer at Texas A&M in the Mechanical and Materials Engineering department. He will focus on metrology and inspection, working with CNC machines, and analyzing part failure.

“My professors Eric Wooldridge, Debra House, and Kathy Lewis helped expose me to REU’s and helped me apply for them. They have been very helpful throughout this whole process,” Gavin said. “I’m excited to go to a new place and meet new people.”

Connor Denney, from Eubank, KY, will be delving into Additive Manufacturing at the University of Louisville. His project will focus on understanding the electro-spinning process of a 3D printing machine.

Connor says he’s ready to get out into the world, make connections, and travel all over the country through this research opportunity.

The trio credits SCC's supportive environment, small class sizes, and hands-on experience in the 3D Printing lab for their success. They emphasize the importance of seizing opportunities, applying oneself in the classroom, and building connections with classmates and professors.

Allyson and Connor have benefited from SCC’s Math and Science Excellence Scholarship (MSSE), funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The scholarship supports students pursuing degrees in math, biology, chemistry, physics, or engineering.

“The MSSE community here at SCC is designed to provide support and mentorship for students pursuing STEM fields. Our Math Club and MSSE scholars have built something very special, and I am proud to be a part of it.  I am especially proud of Gavin, Connor, and Ally. They continue to inspire me to be a better teacher and I am excited to see where their future takes them,” said Professor Debra House.

Upon graduation, Allyson and Gavin will receive associate of science degrees and 3D Printing certificates from SCC. Connor will return to complete his second year of studies---all three plan to transfer to Tennessee Tech for their four-year engineering degrees.

Professor and director of SCC's Additive Manufacturing and Innovation Center, Eric Wooldridge, praises the students' achievements, noting SCC's role in producing top-tier engineers. "From Texas to Maine, Tennessee, Illinois, and California, we are sending our students out to research, learn, professionally network, and demonstrate first-hand what our people are truly capable of," says Wooldridge.

Gavin has a message for people thinking about getting started on their higher education journey, “SCC teaches you how to be a good student without all the distractions, and they prepare you for what’s to come next. Small class sizes and individual attention from the professors have been a key to my success at SCC.”

For more information on SCC's Math and Science program and scholarship opportunities, visit somerset.kctcs.edu.