A team of middle school students at the Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA) recently received a $1,000 Promising STEM Innovation Award from the 2025–2026 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow national competition. Their cancer research project, titled “Human-Relevant Method to Match Cancer Treatments to Tumors,” employed artificial intelligence to determine a more effective method of treating cancer patients.
“This recognition shows what’s possible when students are introduced to complex scientific problems early and are trusted to solve them with their natural curiosity and out-of-the-box thinking,” says Dr. Walter Uhoya, Math Science Instructor at the Russell Mathematics and Science Center at ASFA and mentor to the team. “These middle school students are engaging with cutting-edge cancer research concepts and applying STEM in a way that mirrors how real biomedical innovation happens.” This national recognition highlights how ASFA trains students to dive deep into the sciences, creating future problem-solvers and innovative thinkers. To learn more about ASFA, visit asfaschool.org.
