A Polk County middle school student will share the stage with celebrities like Janet Jackson, Cardi B and Hugh Jackson in New York City later this month.
Nakia Woody, 11, of Chilhowee Middle School will be on stage at the Global Citizens Festival on Sept. 29 to promote the importance of technology in schools.
Woody is a Verizon Innovative Learning student, a program through Verizon Wireless, that provides free technology, internet and hands-on experiences to students without such access. She is one of 6.5 million students nationwide that are impacted by education inequality and lack technology access.
Through the program, Woody has integrated technology into her community through community service programs, visiting local food pantries, nursing homes and has even improved her own grades.
She will be joining Version CEO Hans Vestberg at the festival, who will be making an announcement about the company's next national program.