Several eighth and ninth graders from around the state will be doing more than riding roller coasters this summerthey will be studying them.
Over 40 students who recently finished seventh graderising eighth-gradersand over 35 rising ninth-graders will come to West Virginia Universitys main campus in July to enrich their minds at the Governors School for Math and Science .
The academically talented students will participate in a variety of research projects designed around this years themeAmusement Parks.Session one, for the rising eighth-graders, will be held from July 8-17; session two, for the rising ninth-graders, will be held from July 19-31. The ninth-graders also have the opportunity to attend a session at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory at Green Bank Aug. 2-15.
We are trying to identify talented young people, who are already interested in mathematics and science and are doing well, and encourage them to continue and go on in these careers,said Keith Garbutt, dean of students for the Governors School for Math and Science program.Research suggests that many will move away from these careers because they are not �€~cool,and we want them to understand it is a great career.
The students will stay in Stalnaker Hall on WVU s downtown campus, where they will be mentored by resident advisors. The advisors WVU studentswill also work alongside the participants to assist with their research projects.
Program participants will work with classmates to solve real-world scenarios. The E-Mission scenarios will be presented through live video feed with a flight director at mission control from the Challenger Learning Center at Wheeling Jesuit University.
However, the students will do more than study in the classroom.
They will apply their science and math skills while riding rides at Kennywood Amusement Park, exploring the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and visiting the Pittsburgh Zoo.
They will be measuring the acceleration of the roller coasters, looking at safety and food service and a lot of other things you dont normally think about when you are at an amusement park. It will be fun and educational at the same time,Garbutt said.
Organized trips will also be taken to Pricketts Fort for an outdoor concert by The Woodticks, the WVU Student Recreation Center and the pool at Marilla Park.
Other GSMS activities include a quiz bowl, lectures by WVU faculty, a dance and ice cream social.
2009 GSMS PARTICIPANTS *
*Rising eighth-graders (first session):
Jacob Linton, Berkeley
Landon Pettit, Braxton
Cassidy Bland, Brooke
Kelsey Jett, Calhoun
Nicholas Smith, Calhoun
Robert Rippeon, Doddridge
Joshua Briggs, Doddridge
Erin Heeter, Fayette
Joel Bracken, Fayette
Michaela OBrien, Greenbrier
Sara Swann, Greenbrier
Stephen Hott-Bellingham, Hardy
Jared Beard, Hardy
Rachel Fulks, Harrison
Alaina Shreves, Harrison
Anya Wallace, Jefferson
Grace Guiney, Jefferson
Ankur Kumar, Kanawha
Aryana Misaghi, Kanawha
Katlin Kouns, Kanawha
Georgia Warder, Lewis
Thomas Cooper, Lincoln
Autumn Huffman, Marion
Chelsea Owens, McDowell
Austin Johnson, McDowell
David Runyon, Mingo
Julius Hatcher, Mingo
Esha Halabe, Monongalia
Andrew Morrison, Pocahontas
Chaunte McDowell, Raleigh
Kathryn Totten, Randolph
Jillian Amos, Randolph
Brandy Cook, Summers
Patrick Parmer, Summers
Ian Nichols, Tucker
Noah Garrison, Tyler
J. Taylor Spry, Wayne
Ethan Umstead, Wetzel
Kayla Bain, Wirt
Paul Fernandes, Wood
Isabella Velez, Wood
Sean Snider, Wood
Rising ninth-graders (second session):
Alivia Ayers, Berkeley
Kylie Unger, Berkeley
Samuel Smith, Cabell
Dillion Muhly-Alexander, Doddridge
Abigail Tice, Hancock
Michael Fouts, Harrison
Zoe Levine, Jefferson
Anna Rubenstein, Kanawha
Matthew Bartrug, Marion
Jonathan Goodnight, Marshall
Nash Burke, Marshall
Timothy Shaffer, Mineral
Briana Smith, Mingo
Farren Staten, Mingo
Morgan Huff, Mingo
Alexander Panaccione, Monongalia
Michelle Ma, Monongalia
Mohamed Feliachi, Monongalia
Anna Pace, Monroe
Carlee Frye, Monroe
Joshua Sparks, Nicholas
Ciana Cassi, Ohio
Cody Turner, Pendleton
Kayla Sisler, Preston
Quentin Buckley, Putnam
Vivian Yao, Putnam
Mihir Dave, Raleigh
Peyton Teets, Randolph
Dale Keplinger, Ritchie
Danielle Walters, Roane
Whitney Poling, Taylor
Alexa Vanhoose, Wayne
Sarina Singh, Wood
Dustin Smith, Wyoming
Kodey Blankenship, Wyoming
Andrew Cook, Wyoming
Tiffany Estep, Wyoming
For more information, visit http://www.wvgovschools.org/GSMS/ .