Congratulations to Next Gen’s incredible team at the 2026 Are You Smarter Than a Gaston County 5th Grader? (AYS), held on February 12 and presented by the Gaston County Education Foundation!
Next Gen was proudly represented by Stuart Dowling, Will Kieffer, Rush Simmons, and Emily Winter, along with our two outstanding students, Elliot and Andrew. A special shoutout to our partner school, Kiser Elementary (Stanley), for bringing the knowledge and the energy — you made us proud!
Next Gen has been a bronze-level sponsor of this fantastic event since its inception in 2012, and we’re honored to continue supporting a program that celebrates education, community, and student achievement.
AYS is directed by Amy Spencer, Executive Director of the Education Foundation, and chair of the Next Gen Steering Committee. Here’s to teamwork, learning, and another great year at AYS!
