High school junior Alec Winters has been nominated to attend the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders in Boston on June 28-30. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the science director of the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists in Washington, D.C., invited Winters to represent New York based on his academic achievement, leadership potential, and passion for science and technology.

The Congress, an honors-only program, serves to honor, inspire, motivate and direct the top students in the country who aspire to be scientists and technologists, and to help provide a path, plan and resources to help them reach their goals.

“This is a crucial time in America, when we need more nimble-minded and creative scientists and technologists who are even better prepared for a future that is changing exponentially,” said NAFST Executive Director Richard Rossi. “Focused, bright and determined students like Alec are our future, and he deserves all the mentoring and guidance we can give him.”

During the three-day Congress, Winters will join students from across the country to hear Nobel Laureates and National Medal of Science winners discuss leading scientific research, to be advised by deans of the world’s top tech universities, to be inspired by fellow teen science prodigies, and to learn about cutting-edge advances and the future of science and technology.

“I am very excited to participate,” said Winters. “I have quite a few passions, and science and math are two of them.” Looking ahead to college in 2016, he is planning to major in music, and minor in math and physics. “Music and math go hand in hand,” he said.