Adventist Student in Bolivia Joins Scientific Expedition to the North Pole

Valeria Yorley Gutiérrez Quiroz, an outstanding high school student at the Domingo Faustino Sarmiento Adventist Academy in Cochabamba, Bolivia, was selected to participate in a scientific expedition to the North Pole. The expedition will take place aboard a Russian nuclear icebreaker as part of the international “Icebreaker of Knowledge” competition.

The 14-year-old student was selected from among more than 70,000 applicants from 21 countries who participated in the contest organized by the Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation, an educational initiative aimed at promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) among teenagers.

During the expedition Valeria will participate in scientific workshops, interactive activities, and direct observation of unique natural phenomena across the Arctic. All of this will take place aboard one of the world’s most modern nuclear icebreakers.

Valeria is part of the 65 14- to 16-year-old students who will participate in the expedition, and the only Bolivian. Participants come from such countries as Armenia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Egypt, Ghana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Russia, South Africa, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

About the Contest

The selection process for the project included three stages. Valeria began her participation on April 28, successfully completing a scientific questionnaire. In the second phase, she attended virtual seminars and prepared summaries in English on technological innovations developed by Rosatom.

To complete the last stage, Valeria presented a video in English in which she explained how nuclear technologies can contribute to development and improve the quality of life in Bolivia. In her proposal she highlighted the use of modern equipment for the early detection of cancer and the study of groundwater in the agricultural sector.

The final selection was made at the “Atom” museum, located in the VDNKh exhibition center in Moscow, where organizers announced the students who will be part of the expedition. The group will travel in August aboard the Russian nuclear icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy [50 Years of Victory], an iconic ship used on scientific missions in the Arctic.

A Personal and Collective Conquest

This achievement not only highlights Valeria’s effort and talent but also reflects Adventist education’s commitment to wholistic instruction, according to Adventist educational leaders. “Adventist education promotes academic excellence, Christian values, and the development of critical and scientific thinking from an early age,” they said.

Valeria explained that she is “very grateful to God, my parents, and my school.” She added, “Thank you to my family and Adventist education, who have taught me to dream big, to be disciplined and curious, and to have faith. This trip is a blessing and a great opportunity to learn and grow.”

The Role of Adventist Education in Bolivia

The school celebrated its student’s achievement, explaining that it reflects its mission: “Educating for This Life and for Eternity.”

“This event represents a historic milestone for Adventist education in Bolivia,” educational leaders said. “At the same time, it takes the country to an international scene, where with faith, effort, and wholistic education young South Americans can achieve great goals.”

The original version of this story was posted on the South American Division Spanish-language news site.