Rising fourth-grader Rowan Danielsen, of Farmville, has been selected to join outstanding elementary school students from across the state this summer to take part in a unique academic and career-oriented development experience — the National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF): Pathways to STEM, a press release cited.

Officials noted in the release that forum will take place July 21-26 at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

NYLF: Pathways to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) is one of the Envision family of programs that enable students to explore their interests and experience learning beyond the classroom, the release stated.

As noted at www.envisionexperience.com, “Envision has grown from a teacher with an idea to a company that provides nearly 20 different career, leadership and technology programs that take place in cities across the United States and the world. … Our programs are developed by educators and subject-matter professionals. Using innovative tools and techniques, our activities mirror real-world challenges and facilitate critical thinking and communication among the groups.”

Danielsen was nominated to attend NYLF: Pathways to STEM by his third-grade teacher, Tiffany Capati at Prince Edward County Elementary School, officials said in the release.

“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to go to STEM Camp,” Danielsen said. “And I’m looking forward to learning things that I didn’t know before, and will remember for the rest of my life. I’m especially excited about learning about robotics.”

In addition to participating on his school’s news team, Danielsen is also passionate about reading, music and volunteering in charitable service projects, officials highlighted in the release. They added that with dreams of becoming a mechanical engineer and designing “super cars,” Danielsen is looking forward to gaining the hands-on experience that the forum provides.

“As an alumna of Envision myself, I am excited for Rowan to meet, work and collaborate with fellow high-aspiring students from other cities and schools,” Envision Senior Vice President Amanda Freitag Thomas said in the release. “Hands down, my favorite part of attending an Envision program was being with motivated students in an environment designed to help us challenge our assumptions, meet new people and grow. Creating that same learning environment is a central focus for all of our programs. At NYLF: Pathways to STEM, students build the confidence and skills needed to excel in the classroom while gaining exposure to STEM fields and concepts. They learn how to adapt to and communicate in new situations, to new challenges and with new people, which, given how rapidly the world is changing due to technology and innovation, are essential skills for success.”

The 9-year-old Danielsen has thrilled his parents with his achievement, a reaction conveyed by his father, Ian Danielsen, who is an assistant professor at Longwood University.

“We are very proud of Rowan for his good work at Prince Edward Elementary that led to this opportunity,” he said. “And we are highly excited for this amazing opportunity for him.”

Rowan Danielsen will actually be fairly busy this summer.

“He is in the Talented and Gifted Program (TAG), and will also be attending TAG Camp at Longwood during the two weeks prior to STEM Camp at Wake Forest,” Ian Danielsen said.

Since 1985, Envision programs have served more than 800,000 students in more than 145 countries, the release highlighted, with programs designed to help students develop the leadership, scholarship and career skills needed to succeed in today’s competitive college and career landscape.