Camarria Makes a Breakthrough in Cancer Research Through Boys & Girls Club STEM Program

Imagine making a breakthrough in cancer research before even starting high school. For 13-year-old Camarria, that’s exactly what happened during a STEM afterschool program through her Boys & Girls Club.

Camarria and her twin sister joined Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago’s James R. Jordan Club at age 10 after their cousin, an employee, encouraged them to explore its programs. At school, her favorite subjects are science, history and math. Noticing her interest in STEM, Club Director Will Edmondson invited then 11-year-old Camarria and her sister to participate in a new hands-on science program.

Partnering with the University of Illinois-Chicago, the Antibiotic Discovery Lab offers Club members the opportunity to engage in lab experiments during 3-month rotations. UIC Professor Brian Murphy leads the Lab with youth working closely with graduate students from the Retsky College of Pharmacy.

“The program is designed to teach kids about field sampling, lab screening and data analysis. It also allows them to contribute to publishable science and gain exposure to STEM careers,” says Will.

Youth were asked to collect bacteria samples from a local park to test for disease or cancer-fighting agents. While roaming the area, goose droppings caught Camarria’s eye.

“I was picking up rocks when I saw the goose poop near the water. Whenever I go to the park with my mom, she always feeds the geese, and they’ll eat anything. So, I was curious to see if their poop had any interesting bacteria.”

At the lab, Club kids used robotics to test their samples, and a new cancer-fighting compound was uncovered in Camarria’s sample, a discovery that’s been particularly meaningful for her.

“I was shocked when I heard I had made a scientific discovery,” she said. “My mom, auntie and grandma have all had cancer, so I’m really happy that I found something that could help find a cure.”

Camarria’s discovery was published in a biomedical research journal. She and her sister also received lifetime memberships from the National Society of Black Engineers and full-ride scholarship offers to the Illinois Institute of Technology.

“This discovery means a lot to my family and has opened doors for me and my sister. I’ve always wanted to go to college, and now it’s possible,” Camarria says.

Along with the UIC Antibiotic Discovery Lab, the James R. Jordan Club offers other STEM programs. One program called STEAMbassadors partners with Truman College to pair middle schoolers with college mentors on a two-week summer project. STEAMbassador teens have gained experience in AR, AI, coding, robotics, animation, 3D printing and more.

“When Club staff teach us, they don’t lecture. They explain lessons in fun ways,” says Camarria. “I also like how everything we learn is hands-on. The adults encourage us to go out and explore, instead of just sitting in a classroom.”

With a variety of STEM experiences under her belt, Camarria is considering several future careers, including pediatrics, teaching and cosmetology.

“Now that Camarria is entering high school, she’ll have access to more workforce readiness and leadership programs at the Club to help achieve her goals,” says Will. “We’re proud of the success she’s had already and want her to see herself as a scientist and a changemaker.”

No matter where life takes Camarria, she hopes to continue making new discoveries.

“I want to have a positive impact on the world, especially with this discovery,” she says. “This whole experience has inspired me to explore what else is out there.”

Source
¹ Boys & Girls Clubs of America, 2025 Youth Right Now Survey, www.bgca.org/youthrightnow