Young scholars came to North Carolina Central University from around the State of North Carolina to join the ranks of high school students with a penchant for science and mathematics. Eighty-one young people gained exposure to an exciting enrichment program that included the study of anatomy and physiology, biomedical, biotechnology, math, environmental biology, digital electronics, computer graphics, and more.
Jennifer Okpala is a rising high school junior from Fayetteville, N.C. This summer endeavor has her ‘all fired up.’ She has set her sights on the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics as the next step in her overall plan. Okpala’s enjoyment is clear as she laughs when she says, “ I love chemistry. I am learning more about everything. I am having a great time, especially the residential college life part.” Okpala says she will go to a four-year college to major in biology and microbiology. “I want to be a physician.”
Veronica Butler’s mom thought the Summer Ventures program was just the ticket for her rising senior from the Christian Academy in Wilmington, N.C. “My mom felt that before I go off to college, a practice run was needed.” Butler wants to be a medical doctor, too. She was enthusiastic about a drug discovery class and “thin-layer chromatography.” She says thin-layer chromatography involves spotting a compound on a silica coated glass plate, developing the plate in a solvent chamber and then shining a UV light on it to characterize the compounds by how high they rise on the plate.
Dr. Jasper Harris, professor of geography and earth sciences at NCCU, has been the director of the Summer Ventures in Science and Mathematics programs for 20 years. Harris is very proud of the learning module saying, “We give gifted and talented young scholars the opportunity to meet other students with similar interests and abilities. They get the chance to experience residential college life. But more importantly, we expose the students to supplemental concepts of math and science, which inspires many to pursue careers in the science and technology of tomorrow.”
The four-week Summer Ventures Science and Mathematics Institute will wrap July 19, 2008. For those interested in the 2009 venture, visit
www.summerventures.org in mid-October for the application form.
SVSM is a free, state program funded through the University of North Carolina System. NCCU is one of six program sites in the state, including Appalachian State, East Carolina, UNC-Charlotte, UNC-Wilmington and Western Carolina.
Posted By: Kenyana Madison
Monday, July 21st 2008 at 10:18AM
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