{"id":164360,"date":"2026-03-19T10:36:57","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T14:36:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/?p=164360"},"modified":"2026-03-19T12:22:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T16:22:30","slug":"wright-state-university-awards-full-tuition-scholarships-to-12-students-at-big-hoopla-stem-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/2026\/03\/19\/wright-state-university-awards-full-tuition-scholarships-to-12-students-at-big-hoopla-stem-challenge\/","title":{"rendered":"Wright State University awards full-tuition scholarships to 12 students at Big Hoopla STEM Challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wright State University awarded full in-state tuition scholarships to 12 area students during the Big Hoopla\u2019s STEM Challenge on March 15 at the Nutter Center, celebrating young learners who demonstrated outstanding engagement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.<\/p>\n

The scholarship recipients were also recognized before a national audience during halftime of an NCAA First Four game on March 18 at the University of Dayton Arena.<\/p>\n

Scholarships were awarded to two basketball shootout winners in each of four grade divisions, with four additional recipients selected through a raffle drawing. To be eligible for a scholarship, students were required to complete at least 80% of the STEM passport, a series of hands-on activities and demonstrations offered throughout the event.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt Wright State, we believe that supporting our region\u2019s young people is an excellent investment in our region\u2019s future,\u201d said Wright State President Sue Edwards. \u201cOur partnership with the Big Hoopla brings the excitement of discovery to students who may one day become the engineers, scientists and problem-solvers our community needs. By offering these scholarships, we are opening doors and providing hope, so every motivated student in our community knows a college education at Wright State is within their reach.\u201d<\/p>\n

The annual STEM Challenge drew more than 800 students in kindergarten through eighth grade to Wright State to take part in science shows and hands-on exhibits. Wright State\u2019s partnership with the Big Hoopla introduces students to STEM concepts through engaging, interactive activities, while celebrating the community\u2019s love of basketball.<\/p>\n

For scholarship winners, a life-changing moment<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For Brandie James, mother of fourth-grade winner Karter Wilson, the scholarship carried real financial weight.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt means a lot that he\u2019ll get a chance to go to college and we won\u2019t have to stress and worry about how we\u2019re going to pay for it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

James added that she also values the STEM component of the event.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the STEM part of it is super important,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s good for kids to learn more about STEM and science. Basketball is the bonus part.\u201d<\/p>\n

Karter was already thinking ahead \u2014 his mother recalled that on the drive to the event, he told her he might not need to go away to college since he could stay close to home and attend Wright State.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Students hold full-tuition scholarship checks during halftime of an NCAA First Four game on March 18, where Wright State University and the Big Hoopla recognized the STEM Challenge winners.<\/p><\/div>\n

Kristen Turner, whose fifth-grade daughter Kinsley won the girls\u2019 basketball shootout, described the experience as incredible.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew she could do it,\u201d Kristen said. \u201cSuper appreciative for this opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kinsley, who plays on two youth basketball teams and is coached by her mother, had recently been to the Nutter Center to watch a high school girls\u2019 Final Four tournament game just before the STEM Challenge.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust to be back in this atmosphere is awesome,\u201d Kristen said.<\/p>\n

Eighth-grader Lexi Kerns, who won her scholarship through the raffle drawing, said the moment caught her off guard.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was literally praying before I got drawn and I was just blown away when I got picked,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s such a relief and such a great opportunity. It leaves me really excited for college.\u201d<\/p>\n

The award had special meaning for Lexi\u2019s family: her parents are Wright State graduates.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is an amazing opportunity for all students, especially in this area,\u201d said Melissa Kerns, a 2006 graduate.<\/p>\n

The STEM Challenge scholarships reflect Wright State\u2019s ongoing commitment to broadening access to higher education and supporting the next generation of STEM talent in the Miami Valley.<\/p>\n

2026 Big Hoopla STEM Challenge scholarship winners<\/strong><\/h3>\n

STEM Passport Raffle Winners:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Aubrille Newsome, Flynn Paquay, Lexi Kerns and Karter Wilson<\/p>\n

Hot shot basketball winners:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Grades K\u20132:<\/em> Nelly Schmidt (boys) and Lorelei Duly (girls)<\/p>\n

Grades 3\u20134:<\/em> Kohen Sandland (boys) and Kaylani Hill (girls)<\/p>\n

Grades 5\u20136:<\/em> Brantley Hensley (boys) and Kinsley Turner (girls)<\/p>\n

Grades 7\u20138:<\/em> Griffin O\u2019Leary (boys) and Alexandra Douglass (girls)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wright State awarded full in-state tuition scholarships to 12 students during the Big Hoopla\u2019s STEM Challenge, celebrating young learners who demonstrated outstanding engagement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":164367,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[729,2798,743,2048,725,727,715,746,720],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-164360","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-around-campus","category-athletics","category-engineering-computer-science","category-enrollment-management","category-home-news-sidebar","category-homepage-photos-and-video","category-news","category-science-mathematics","category-video"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164360","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/43"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=164360"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164360\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":164381,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164360\/revisions\/164381"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/164367"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=164360"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=164360"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=164360"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}