As the days of summer slowly drift by, boredom begins to slip its way into some middle-school childrens lives. But for 120 teen-agers from across West Virginia, a love for math and science should keep the summertime doldrums away while they attend the second annual Governors School for Math and Science at West Virginia University.
https://webadmin.wvu.edu/www.nis.wvu.edu/2003_Releases/GSMS.htm#rising ninth-graders”>Students entering ninth grade in the fall will attend the first session July 6-18;https://webadmin.wvu.edu/www.nis.wvu.edu/2003_Releases/GSMS.htm#rising eighth-graders”>students starting eighth grade will participate in a second session July 23-Aug.1. Support for the school comes from the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation and the WVU provosts office.
“These young students will use their math and science skills in exploring the design, operation and maintenance of an amusement park,”said Eric Pyle, director of the school and an associate professor of science education at WVU .”This gives the students as much of the real context as possible, which makes the learning more worthwhile.”
Instructors will include faculty from WVU and other state higher education institutions, public school math and science teachers, and fellows in the WVU TIGERS (Teams of Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellows Engaged to Reinvigorate Students) Project. WVU students majoring in math, science, engineering and education will serve as student mentors.
Opening ceremonies will be at 3:15 p.m. Sunday, July 6 (first session), and Wednesday, July 23 (second session), in the Mountainlair Ballrooms, with state and WVU officials welcoming the students.
Then the work starts, Pyle said. By doing some research and using the”Jigsaw method”of cooperative learning, the students become”experts”on a certain topic, work with”experts”in other areas and find solutions to issues raised by amusement parks.
The schools agenda also includes a field trip to Kennywood Park, where the young scientists will make some observations, take some measurements and, of course, have some fun.
Activities conclude with the students presenting arguments as to why building a theme park in West Virginia would or would not be a good idea. They will present their ideas to a mock Economic Development Commission composed of WVU student mentors.
For more information about the Governors School for Math and Science, contact Pyle at 304-293-3441, ext. 1310 or 216-1115 or visit the schools Web site at/www.wvgovschools.org/mands/index.html.
Sarah Austin, Martinsburg
p. Kelsey Bailey, Pineville
Michael Ball, Chapmanville
Anthony Barner, Sinks Grove
Michael Barnes, Clarksburg
Devan Basil, Wellsburg
Emily Beckelhimer, Milton
Michael Bradford, Paw Paw
Erica Butler, Grafton
Chelsea Byer, Letart
Allison Collins, West Hamlin
Ashley Ferrell, Raysal
Karen Finley, Hurricane
Adriane Fisher, Metz
Michelle Fisher, Oak Hill
Dylan Foster, Ghent
James Frame, Wharton
Amy Gannett, Morgantown
Dillon Hashman, Normantown
Audrey Henneman, Ronceverte
Jordan Henry, Princeton
Jessica Hopkins, Buckhannon
Rebecca King, Princeton
Justin Knight, Sutton
Michael Kotson, Glen Dale
Laura Lee, Raleigh
Elizabeth Maddox, Wardensville
Sarah Mallow, Upper Tract
Jacob Marshall, Ona
Jonathon Mauller, Bridgeport
Lucian Mazza, Morgantown
p. Kevin Meigh, Wheeling
Patricia Michael, Fairmont
David Mitchell, Marlinton
Alexis Montgomery, Welch
Christopher Ooten, Williamson
Sonya Owen, Chester
Amanda Perry, Ripley
Elizabeth Philbrick, Petersburg
Megan Price, Kenova
Codi Richards, Fairmont
Meghan Schreckengost, Palestine
Patrick Shahan, Parkersburg
Cassandra Shanahan, Wheeling
Ryan Shields, Ridgeley
Mindy Simons, Tunnelton
Adam Skaff, Charleston
Amanda Snedegar, Ronceverte
Levi Stevens, Rockview
Ryan Summers, Sistersville
Lesley Swisher, Capon Bridge
Brittany Sypolt, Jane Lew
JacobTesterman, Harman
Wesley Thompson, Fayetteville
Nathaniel Toler, Wharncliffe
Thomas Van Vliet, Harpers Ferry
Kylen Whipp, Glen Dale
Mason Wilfong, Williamstown
Karah Wines, Liberty
Maria Xu, Morgantown
Below is a list of rising ninth-grade students attending the Governors School for Math and Science, along with their hometowns:
Laura Adkins, Delbarton
p. Nadia Ahmed, Philippi
Daniel Barbero, Morgantown
Ennis Barbery, Athens
Brandon Baylor, Williamstown
Jordan Beckett, Palestine
Tyler Bogen, Newburg
Brandt Burkhammer, Cox’s Mills
Michael Castle, Huntington
Kimberly Clevenger, Thomas
Julianna Czaja, Greenville
Sean Eagan, Cameron
Ross Elder, St. Marys
Paul Espinosa Jr., Charles Town
Ryan Fell, Oak Hill
Kristine Finley, Hurricane
Megan Fish, Nitro
Timothy Fisher, Millville
Lauren Fissel, Cairo
Katherine Ford, Arbovale
Holly Fricke, Huntington
Brandon Friend, Wheeling
Bryant Gorrell, Ripley
Heather Graffius, Madison
Eryn Gray, Palestine
Austin Hannum, Point Pleasant
Ian Hernly, Bridgeport
William Hornick, Gary
Kimberly Hotchkiss, Paw Paw
Samantha Jenab, Fairmont
Trevor Jones, Richwood
p. Erica Justice, Talcott
Jamie Kearns, Bomont
Adam Knowlton, Friendly
Ashley Largent, Wiley Ford
Aaron Latos, Linn
Joshua Linton, Sutton
Alexander McPherson, Huntington
Kayla Medina, Enterprise
Sarah Miles, West Union
Ronald Mongold, Maysville
Hannah Morris, Reader
Henry Oliver, Independence
Sheila Othman, Lewisburg
Amy Pabst, Spencer
Elizabeth Parnicza, Weirton
Victoria Phillips, Inwood
Kelsey Pierce, Logan
Jennifer Sands, Buckhannon
Zachary Santer, Nitro
Stephanie Sias, Ranger
Katie Simmons, Elkins
Joshua Smalley, Berkeley Springs
Christopher Smurthwaite, Wellsburg
Jason Statler, Core
Matthew Thompson, Franklin
Jessi Troyan, Elkview
Rowan Weiblen, Yellow Spring
Wesley Wyandt, Meadow