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DOWAGIAC — A Dowagiac teen has been selected to participate in a prestigious summer program dedicated to nurturing the minds of young physicists across the country.

Johncarlo Kimmey, a Dowagiac resident and junior at Berrien Math and Science Center/Berrien Springs High School, has been chosen to participate in the highly competitive Physicists Inspiring the Next Generation Summer Program at Michigan State University.

PING is hosted in collaboration with MSU’s world-renowned Facility for Rare Isotope Beams. The program immerses select high-achieving high school students from across the nation in cutting-edge nuclear science,  lab experiences, and career exploration alongside top physicists and researchers.

Johncarlo’s passion for nuclear physics stems from personal experience. His mother’s battle with cancer inspired him to explore the critical role of medical imaging technologies such as PET scans and isotopes in life-saving diagnoses and treatments. His future aspirations lie at the intersection of medicine and engineering, where he hopes to develop innovations in biomedical technology that improve and save lives. A great lesson has resonated with him from his freshman year biology professor, Dr. Denise Smith: never let the curiosity go!

“This is more than a camp,” says Johncarlo. “It’s another step toward curiosity and my dream of making a difference through science. I’m honored and excited to learn from leading researchers and see how nuclear physics translates into real-world medical breakthroughs.”

Johncarlo is also active in competitive robotics, and community STEM outreach, embodying the values of leadership, resilience, and innovation. He attributes this honor to the incredible guidance and instruction of his mentors, counselors,  coaches, and professors at Berrien Springs High School, Andrews University, and Southwestern Michigan College. His selection to PING reflects not only his academic excellence but his deep motivation to use science for the greater good.

For more information about the PING program, visit https://frib.msu.edu/for-students/programs/ping.