Claire McGraw, a seventh-grade student at Covington Middle School, has been accepted to the Appalachian STEM Academy at Oak Ridge in Tennessee, a competitive summer program for middle school students from 13 Appalachian states. She is the daughter of Matthew and Darilyn McGraw. (Photo Courtesy of Matt McGraw)

CMS Student Chosen for Elite Appalachian STEM Academy   Covington, VA (March 10, 2026) - Claire McGraw, a seventh-grade student at Covington Middle School, has been accepted to the Appalachian STEM Academy at Oak Ridge in Tennessee, a highly competitive summer program that selects only two middle school students from each of the 13 Appalachian states. McGraw is a strong student whose favorite subjects are math, science and Spanish. She is also an avid athlete, competing on the Covington Middle School soccer and cross-country teams and playing travel soccer for VA United. She is the daughter of Matthew and Darilyn McGraw of Covington. The Appalachian STEM Academy at Oak Ridge offers middle school students hands-on learning experiences in science, technology, engineering and mathematics while working alongside STEM professionals and researchers.  The program serves students from across the 13-state Appalachian region, which includes Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. “Claire represents the very best of Covington Middle School,” said Principal Lori Mattson. “Her strong work ethic, curiosity and dedication to learning make her an excellent fit for this opportunity. We are incredibly proud of her accomplishment and excited to see how this experience will further inspire her interest in STEM.” Claire’s family is equally proud of her achievement and looks forward to the opportunities this experience will provide. The academy is part of an initiative by the Appalachian Regional Commission to encourage and support student interest in STEM fields across Appalachia. Follow AHPS on Facebook, Instagram and www.ahps.k12.va.us.

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