Trenton M. Alford has always loved science, but an highly sought internship this summer showed the Laurinburg student what it was like to be a real chemist.

Alford used what he learned for a recent presentation on the Effects of Carbon Nanotube on Solar Cells at the Eighth Annual N.C. Alliance Day.

Alford, a senior at Scotland High, says he got the opportunity through Project Seed, a year-round educational internship.

Of about 200 applicants to the program, 30 were accepted.

"I feel very gracious to be a part of this," Alford said.

During the internship, he worked with Dr. Jie Lui, a chemistry professor at Duke University.

He says the subject for his paper was based in-part on Lui's specialties.

He says his research focused on "organic solar panels that would be cheaper to produce."

Alford, who attends the Scotland High School of Math, Science and Technology, gave the presentation Oct. 2 at the event sponsored by The North Carolina Alliance to Create Opportunity Through Education, or NC OPT-ED.

NC OPT-ED works statewide to increase diversity in math, science and technology jobs.

"I think it went really great," Alford said. "I became a more focused student and found a career path that I would really like to go into."

Alford says he is applying to a number of in-state schools, primarily Wake Forest, UNC Chapel Hill and North Carolina State. He plans to study biochemistry.

The high school senior says he wants to get his Ph.D. and M.D., which he will use to conduct medical and chemical research and treat patients.

He plans to major in biochemistry and become a medical researcher. Alford is also a Morehead-Cain scholarship finalist.

He is the son of Lisa T. Alford, the grandson of Carl and Carolyn Alford and the great-grandson of Carletha S. Alford.