By Mary Stewart | The Selma Times-Journal

R’ryanna DeVille was offered the opportunity of a lifetime, and she took it.

DeVille will be heading to Boston, Massachusetts later this week to participate in the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders.

She was nominated based on her academics record, leadership potential and her desire to contribute to the field of science or technology.

“I’ve always liked math more really,” DeVille said. “Math is my favorite subject, and science I was just good at.”

She is a sophomore at Selma High School, and she is dual enrolled at Wallace Community College Selma.

DeVille was noticed by Selma High faculty member, Eshwaa Godfrey, who never taught Deville but still noticed her intelligence.

“He’s on the board, and he helps students get nominated from the state of Alabama,” she said. “I never took him for a class, and I never talked to him about it.”

DeVille said she was surprised when she read the letter.

“I was like a letter? What’s going on?’. So, I opened it, and I was like, ‘Wow mom can I go?’  She was like, ‘Yeah, that sounds like a good opportunity.’ It was just a blessing.”

DeVille will be traveling to the camp with her father, mother and four sisters.

The camp will run from June 28 through July 1.

She will be attending motivational speeches from speakers including Buzz Aldrin, the second man to step foot on the moon, and David Whineland, who won a Nobel Prize in physics.

DeVille received a letter from Governor Kay Ivey congratulating her and officially endorsing her as a representative of the state of Alabama.

Governor Ivey said in an email that DeVille represents America’s bright and shining future.

“It makes me feel good,” she said. “I feel proud. Hard work pays off, especially if you work smart.”

DeVille is working on getting her associates degree in computer information systems from Wallace.

She has plans to work in family law after high school.

“My older cousin was going to be a lawyer, and I was like, ‘Wow if she can do it, why can’t I do it?’” DeVille said. “Then I just started to look into the lawyer field, and I think justice is a key for everyone.”

She said her mother is who she has leaned on for support throughout the years, but she wants to give all the glory to God.

“He really made this come true,” she said. “If you believe in God, be a light to other people, and they will praise your father in heaven. Not only will they be motivated by you, but they will get closer to God.”