1 Belizean/American Teens Wins Silver at International STEM Olympiad

It’s a proud moment for Belizeans everywhere, seventeen-year-old Lewis Cheek is earning global recognition for his brilliance. This young Belizean/American just clinched a silver medal in science at the 2025 STEM Olympiad in Barcelona, Spain. It’s a major international competition where students from around the world put their skills to the test in real-world problem-solving, critical thinking, and innovation. We caught up with his proud mom, Samantha Hessler, who shared more about Lewis’s incredible journey and what this win means for their family, and for Belize.

 

On the Phone: Samantha Hessler, Mother of Lewis Cheek

“He’s been there since July ninth and he’s leaving going back to the us tomorrow July fifteen he has been doing very well and so far he has won a silver medal in science and a medal of recognition for math. I feel very proud and excited and I want to big up my son and make people know, because I come from a small country of Belize, my kids are half Belizean and they are so smart, and I want other children to feel like, there’s no limit you can accomplish anything.”

 

Britney Gordon

“And have you heard from him since the competition began? How is he feeling?”

 

Samantha Heffler

“I’ve spoken to him every day, including the day every time he goes to sit for the competition. When he did the science and the math competition, he told me that he is feeling a little, not sure about the math, but was very confident with the science.. And so far his medals has shown that he has done very well with the science and the math.”