Mid Rivers Newsmagazine >School Bulletin Board<

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Mid Rivers Newsmagazine School Bulletin Board

Francis Howell

Super-Science Camp

Shannon Kelly, a student at Francis Howell Central, will join nearly 80 academically advanced high school juniors and seniors and St. Louis' top researchers for the 2008 Students and Teachers as Research Scientists program at the University of Missouri-St. Louis this summer.

These young scientists will research everything from the mating habits of yellow-finned platys in the Guyana rain forest to the use of wireless sensors in detecting infrastructure damage to alternative energy sources.

Sponsored by Pfizer, Solutia, LMI Aerospace, D3 Technologies and Solae, STARS pairs rising junior and senior high school students will work with research mentors from the host institution UMSL, as well as Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis University, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Washington University in St. Louis.

"It’s so important for us to provide opportunities for students to pursue their interest in science and experience it firsthand before making that choice," said Daniel Getman, director of Pfizer's St. Louis Laboratories. "The STARS program is a wonderful opportunity for high school students to spend time in top laboratories with world class scientists."

For six weeks, biologists, chemists, computer scientists, engineers, medical researchers, physicists and psychologists from the five participating research institutions will take student apprentices under their wings in laboratory settings and direct students in research projects.

"Through student and mentor-scientist partnerships, participants apply various problem-solving strategies to independent research projects," said Ken Mares, director of the STARS program. "Students write technical reports and orally present their results in a seminar format on the last day of the program."

This year’s program, "Experiencing the Scientific Enterprise to Enhance the Education of Young Scientists," is being held June 9 through July 18 at UMSL. In addition to conducting research and presenting papers, students will take part in career workshops, attend lectures by leading scientists from the St. Louis science community, and engage in social activities such as attending a St. Louis Cardinals game, bowling, movies and barbeques.

Barat Haven

Olympic-bound?

Incoming Barat Haven freshman Rachel Weich was recently chosen to attend the developmental camp for the U.S. National hockey team to be held this summer in Rochester, New York. The camp is used to develop girls for a possible spot on the Olympic team and a large number of Division 1 universities scout the camp.

Weich was one of only three defensemen selected from the Midwest region, which includes Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois. Weich was part of the Barat Ice Hockey team that went 22-0-1 this year.

Wentzville District

Sheddrick Memorial Scholarship

The first-ever Samantha Sheddrick Memorial Journalism Scholarship was awarded to Olivia Saldaña, senior at Timberland High School. Olivia, daughter of Juan and Nora Saldaña, of O’Fallon, received $500 toward a college scholarship.

The memorial scholarship was created this year to remember Samantha Sheddrick, a 2007 THS graduate who passed away in June 2007. Sheddrick was the 2007 yearbook co-editor and was going to pursue journalism in college. Her family, along with the yearbook staff, helped fund the scholarship.

Olivia will attend Lindenwood University in the fall and major in studio arts and graphic design. Olivia served as the photo editor of the 2008 yearbook.

SCC

Zonta Scholarship?

The St. Charles chapter of Zonta International has established a scholarship with the St. Charles Community College Foundation to provide financial assistance to female students pursuing education later in life.

“Zonta International is dedicated to advancing the status of women worldwide,” said club president Brenda Fraser. “This scholarship fits perfectly because SCC has students from around the world who need help to pursue their dreams of completing college.”

The $250 annual award is intended to help female students develop career skills that will advance personal and professional development. In addition, if the scholarship recipient maintains the required GPA the SCC Foundation will equal the scholarship amount.

The scholarship was established to honor Fraser’s sister Marlene Ann Fraser Irish, who died of a heart attack last year. Irish, born in 1950, had decided just prior to her death to return to school to pursue her educational goals.

“Marlene would be pleased to know that a scholarship has been established to support and nurture women like her, who want or need to pursue a new direction later in their lives,” said club treasurer Patrice Mullins.? ? Lindenwood

Play money makes money

A recent MBA graduate from Lindenwood University earned his alma mater $10,000 after he won the second annual Intercollegiate Investment Contest sponsored by UMB Bank-St. Louis.

Brad Novak, who has since graduated and is employed by Boeing Company, participated in the contest as part of a project for his Investments II Class. Each participating school was given a hypothetical $1 million, with which they were instructed to put together an investment portfolio. Novak’s project, which grew by 46 percent in the 28 months in which the project spanned, was chosen to represent Lindenwood’s entry.

"I think this is a wonderful testament to the abilities of our students and to Brad Nowak in particular," said Ed Morris, dean of the University’s division of management. "I can't express how proud I am."

The $10,000 prize will be used to name a classroom in Nowak's honor in Lindenwood's Harmon Hall, which will house the university's School of Business and Entrepreneurship following renovations that are scheduled to start in 2008.

New graduate director

Brad Pearson will join the staff at Lindenwood University this summer as the school’s director of graduate business programs. The veteran MBA recruiter will be responsible for promoting Lindenwood’s MBA programs.

“Joining Lindenwood University is an exciting opportunity,” Pearson said. “The students, faculty and staff I encountered during my visit all had the same consistent positive message about Lindenwood, and that really sold me on becoming a member of Lindenwood’s staff.”

Pearson has 17 years of experience in higher education at prominent institutions, primarily working in MBA programs. In his new position, Pearson will work with various departments to design and implement a marketing plan for Lindenwood’s graduate business offerings, including a doctorate in business administration the university plans to add in the fall of 2009. In addition, he will also teach a limited number of marketing courses for the division.

“Creating this position adds a new dimension to the service our graduate business students enjoy, before and after they enroll,” said Dr. Ed Morris, dean of the management division. “And, we think that Brad Pearson, by temperament and experience, is the ideal person for the job.”?