WVU’s Health Sciences and Technology Academy (HSTA) was founded by biology professor Ann Chester, whose childhood experience led her to reach out to minority and underrepresented youth.

“We engage talented students and help them reach their potential,” she said. “They end up doing amazing things.”

“I’ll never forget the day in high school when a substitute chemistry teacher talked to me about my future,” said A.J. Waters, a product of HSTA. “He told me about HSTA, and HSTA changed my life.”

Raised in Raleigh County by a single mother, A.J. was a smart young man with potential. With the help of HSTA and WVU, he said, “I learned to be a leader.” A mentor for other HSTA students and bound for a career serving others, A.J. gave the keynote address at a recent HSTA graduation. “I told them HSTA played a tremendous role in shaping me. I told them I am just getting started.”