Photo provided Sixth-grader Dawson Payne is the first Bartholomew County student to be named STEM Student of the Year by the South Asian Network.
A Smith Elementary student has been honored as STEM Student of the Year.
Sixth-grader Dawson Payne is the first Bartholomew County student to earn honor, presented by the South Asian Network, and was awarded $250 during their second annual gala, “Mela ‘24,” on Saturday at the Commons.
The event, which celebrates Columbus’ South Asian community, also served as a fundraiser for Bartholomew Consolidated School Foundation (BCSF).
Smith Elementary teacher Lisa Haines nominated Payne for the award.
“(The South Asian Network) sent out a post to teachers asking for nominations for students that they felt like exemplified qualities in STEM, which is that ability to overcome obstacles, that stick-to-itiveness that kids need in STEM areas and careers.”
Haines said Payne immediately came to mind when she saw the criteria.
“I see him not only in the realm of the robotics work that we do here at Smith, which he was pivotal on those teams the last two years being so successful,” Haines said. “He’s just a great leader and has wonderful leadership qualities. He’s one of those quiet leaders that gets kids to do what they need to do without being real pushy.”
Haines was referring to Smith’s Super Cyborgs VEX robotics team, which has earned two consecutive trips to world championship competition. Haines helps coach the team.
Payne is also actively involved in Boy Scouts and at the Columbus Propeller Makerspace.
Payne is so advanced, Haines said, sometimes she finds herself needing his help.
“I have had grave difficulties of trying to figure out how to run a 3D printer, and my tutoring and my lessons all came from Dawson,” Haines said. “He’s just a very pivotal kid in those areas, he’s just a great overall kid, so I felt like he was somebody definitely well deserving.”
Payne will become a Central Middle School Charger next year.
