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Local Students Rewarded With STEM Educational Tour Through California

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Inspired by its current exhibition "The Science Behind Pixar"-- The Franklin Institute has partnered with T-E Connectivity to send three local students on a STEM education tour in California.

Dr. Frederic Bertley -- the Senior Vice President of Science and Education says the goal of the trip is three fold.

"TE Connectivity just wants to continue outreach into the community and do more to impact stem education spec for these students, the 2nd goal is to give these students who are high achieving, very keen, very hard working kids the opportunity of a lifetime which is to go PIXAR studios," Bertley said.  "The 3rd goal would be the Franklin institutes goal and that really to continue to impact student lives."

Kate Kopf, Khafren Smith, and Matthew Milligan were selected from a pool of entries from students enrolled in The Franklin Institute's youth education programs.

TFI PIXAR STEM Winners 7-12-2016 (31) (1)
Photo credit: The Franklin Institute

Kopf said this program matches her interest perfectly.

"I'm incredible excited for every single thing we're going to do there, but I have to say the thing I'm most excited about is def visiting the PIX headquarters," she said. "Animation is a very intricate process and I would love to educate myself more on this."

While Smith said he is just excited for the entire trip.

"I'm extremely excited to experience new experiences and see things I've never seen before and the Pixar thing is amazing. I've never been to Pixar at all or California."

Milligan said it's a lot, but he's excited for new adventures.

"I'm a little overwhelmed, but very very excited because I've never really gone out and done anything this big before so I'm just really excited to get out of my comfort zone and experience things."

The trip is scheduled for August 2nd - 6th and will also include exclusive access and tours of major tech centers like Ideo, RLoop, and TE Connectivity. As well as meet and greets scientists and engineers in Silicon Valley.

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