From experimenting with wildlife habitats and water quality to studying energy planning and hydroelectric power , 60 of West Virginias brightest 8th graders will get a healthy dose of science starting Saturday (July 27) as the second session of the Governors School for Math and Science (GSMS) gets under way. The camp lasts until Aug. 4.
The first session, for select 9th graders, took place July 7-19.
Working with the theme”community ecology,”each student will participate in small-town community planning and growth in a town called”Wiseville.”
“We hope to promote wisdom and start with something the students know about alreadythe idea of a small town,”said WVU education professor Eric Pyle, director of the GSMS .”We want to get the students started and engaged in science and mathematical research.”
Sixty students will be split into 12 five-person teams and will work with faculty members and college-level resident assistants in planning both specialized and generalized projects involving community ecology.
Among the projectswater quality, waste management and disposal, energy management, hazardous materials and sharing habitatsall aspects that are vital to the survival of a community.
The goal of the program is simple, Pyle noted.
“We want to provide a basis for solid research skills at the very minimum,”Pyle said,”and hope that some of the students will continue with the research and take more challenging courses in high school.”
To be selected for GSMS , students must have a B+ average or better or score above the 90th percentile in math and science on standardized tests. They must also show a desire for learning science and be willing to accept academic challenges.
While at WVU , students will hear from Gail Charnley, a member of the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Societys Distinguished Lectureship, who will present”Protecting the Children: Risk Assessment, Risk Management, and Children’s Environmental Health.”
They will also visit the Student Recreation Center, Marilla Park and Laurel Caverns.
“I am pleased that the governor views education as a vital component of economic development,”Pyle said,”and am honored to be part of this program.”
Opening ceremonies for the second session will begin on Saturday (July 27) at 2 p.m. in the Mountainlair Ballrooms, followed by a town meeting at 3:30 p.m.
Eighth graders participating in the second session include:
- Branden Adams of Pineville;
- Sarah Anderson of Charleston;
- Michael Austin of Martinsburg;
- Christopher Baker of Lewisburg;
- Brandon Baylor of Williamstown;
- Sara Berhie of Huntington;
- Candace Bias of Davisville;
- Monica Campbell of Logan;
- Michael Castle of Huntington;
- Alexandra Coffman of Grafton;
- Julianna Czaja of Greenville;
- Amanda Dishman of Gary;
- Lauren Durst of Mason;
- Robert Ellis of St. Albans;
- Michael Elmore of Second Creek;
- Jenny Elyard of Franklin;
- Kristine Finley of Hurricane;
- Katherine Ford of Arbovale;
- Holly Fricke of Huntington;
- Amanda Gibson of Sutton;
- Eryn Gray of Palestine;
- Jacob Haines of Capon Bridge;
- Adrienne Haswell of Fairmont;
- Rachel Haswell of Fairmont;
- William Hornick of Gary;
- Cory Igo of Clendenin;
- Alexander Janes of Fairmont;
- Mary Klinestiver of Keyser;
- Brittany Kolojay of Hundred;
- Aaron Latos of Linn;
- Amber Makani of Petersburg;
- John Mathias of Wardensville;
- Adriana Maynard of Huntington;
- Samuel Mazzella of Wellsburg;
- Whitney McHenry of Weston;
- Sarah Miles of West Union;
- Ronald Mongold of Maysville;
- Louie Olive of Williamson;
- Matthew Osborne of Pineville;
- Elizabeth Parnicza of Weirton;
- Kathleen Parsons of Washington;
- Victoria Phillips of Inwood;
- Jeremiah Postalwait of Arnoldsburg;
- Melanie Rayl of Wheeling;
- Joanna Rennix of Mill Creek;
- Nicholas Rubenstein of Capon Bridge;
- Harry Shaffer of Madison;
- Emily Shaffer of Parsons;
- Samantha Shaffer of Wheeling;
- Robert Sherrard of Charleston;
- Christopher Smurthwaite of Wellsburg;
- Christopher Snyder of Clendenin;
- Kaitlin Surbaugh of Shady Spring;
- Isaac Thompson of Ripley;
- Yamuna Uchil of Clarksburg;
- Michael Underwood of Oak Hill;
- Chad Worlfe of Newburg;
- Ronald Woody of French Creek;
- Wesley Wyandt of Meadow Bridge.
For more information visit http://www.wvgovschools.org/mands/index.html .