Elton teen invited to attend national science conference

A 15-year-old from Elton recently got the surprise of a lifetime when he was invited to become one of 4,000 kids chosen to travel to Boston, Mass., to attend a conference featuring Nobel Prize winners as well as leaders in science and technology.

Noah Sickey, who just completed his freshman year at Kinder High School was invited to be a part of the annual meeting of the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists from June 29 to July 1.

In a letter Noah received from Governor John Bel Edwards, the governor referred to Sickey as “a shining example of [his] school, community and Louisiana’s bright future.”

Noah’s father, Brock Sickey said he was surprised when he first opened the governor’s letter.

“We’re excited,” Brock said. “When I got the letter, I didn’t expect anything like this at all. When I opened it up I ran in the house trying to share the news with Noah and my wife. It’s an honor and a blessing. This lets us know that his future is set; this is a huge milestone in his life.

Noah said he’s excited to attend the event, and hopes to soak up all he can from the assembled group of the country’s best and brightest.

“I get to meet a lot of Nobel prize winners and important leaders in science and technology,” he said. “I want to take what they can teach me and use it to excel in my life. My biggest goal would probably to eventually be a Nobel Prize winner myself.”

Noah was invited based on his prowess in Algrebra and Geometry, which he says are two of his favorite subjects.

“Math is an amazing skill to have,” he said. “There’s just so many real-life applications for it.”

In addition to math, Noah says he enjoys English and Science and hopes to take a larger interest in History in the coming school year.

Noah said he plans on putting the honor on his college applications in a few years, although he is not yet sure what he wants to study. Either way, he says, he knows he has a great support system backing him up regardless of what he chooses to do in life.

“I have a very loving and supportive family that helped me do this,” he said. “I’d also like to thank the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana for helping me out with my academics and giving me a solid base to build off of.”