GEAR UP Students Attend Project AMPLE

Students from seven North Central West Virginia counties are learning about mathematics, science and technology during a free, two-week residential program at Fairmont State University.

Project AMPLE (Action Math and Physics Laboratory Experiences) Extended is a summer enrichment program in science, mathematics, graphics and computer technology for current seventh-grade students from designated GEAR UP middle schools. The program began Sunday, June 17, and runs through Thursday, June 28. The purpose of Project AMPLE Extended is to motivate students with high potential to consider future careers as scientists, engineers, graphic designers and mathematicians.

Thirty-two students from Barbour, Harrison, Marion, Preston, Randolph, Taylor and Tucker counties are participating in this year's program.

Dr. Susan Goodwin, Professor of Mathematics; Dr. Erica Harvey, Professor of Chemistry; Amy Stevenski, math faculty at Fairview Middle School; and Stephanie Yoho, math faculty at Fairmont Senior High School, are project directors.

"The underlying message of our program is that the exciting careers available in science, math and technology all require strong math backgrounds," Harvey said. "Students need to take math and science classes every year during middle and high school, so that they will have choices of careers when they start college. They should also take advantage of opportunities to learn computer skills during the middle and high school grades."

One major goal of Project AMPLE Extended is to help students, especially those from groups historically under-represented in the sciences, discover whether they might have potential for a career in math, science, engineering, graphics or computer science. Students completed a rigorous two-stage application process to become part of the program.

Dr. Andreas Baur of the FSU Chemistry Program directs the science program. Goodwin and Denise Kovar of Fairview Middle School lead math classes. Don Tobin of the FSU Computer Science Program, Shane Eakle of East Fairmont High School and Kovar co-direct the Activities and Computer programs. Vijay Raol of the FSU Graphics Technology Program directs the graphics program.

Michael Belmear, FSU Vice President for Student Affairs, directs the evening activities for the camp and serves as residence hall supervisor along with Eakle. Persis Bates, FSU Director of Multicultural Affairs, coordinates the evening activities.

Other staff members helping with Project AMPLE Extended this year include FSU President Dan Bradley, spaghetti bridge competition; Cynthia McFee, math and computer teaching assistant; Renee LaRue computer teaching assistant; Megan Damm, Adrienne Riggi and Ryan Stocking, science teaching assistants; Sandy Shriver, AMPLE purchasing agent; Megan Damm and Rose Ann Levelle, group leaders; Bryan (B.J.) Scott, Anne Johnson and Brooke Michael, evening program and residence hall assistants; and John Piscitelli, photography.

Guest speakers and activity directors during this summer's camp include DJ Lacy Neff; Kim Patton, FSU Admissions Counselor; Charity Kabaiku, WVU Minority Teaching Fellow; Dr. Edith Levy, Chair of the West Virginia Holocaust Education Committee; and members of the FSU Nursing Faculty.

Students from the following counties are participating in AMPLE:

Barbour County  Joshua Andrews, Raven Haddix, Caitlin McGuire, Kelsey Toompas.

Harrison County  Lucas Bolyard, Kaitlin Exline, Michelle Fore, Alexis Noe, Aaron Petitto.

Marion County  Brody Efaw, Trevor Fancher, Kayla Francis, Trisha Higgins, Kelly Humphreys, Kayla Lewis, Taylor Mercer, Evan Moore, Brooks Russell, Cody Santee, Brittany Sheppard, Paige Tuttle.

Preston County  Kara Cobun, Tavien Hovatter, Brittany Louk, Joseph Schmidl, Michael Wilson.

Randolph County  Emily Haddix, Garrett Simmons.

Taylor County  Amber Bradley, Benjamin Peters.

Tucker County  Tiffany Helmick, Susan Simmons.

GEAR UP is a six-year, federally funded program that aims to significantly increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in education beyond high school. In 1999, Fairmont State received the largest of 164 partnership grants awarded throughout the U.S. to serve 47 schools in nine West Virginia counties for six years. In 2005, the partnership was continued with a new six-year grant, an additional $31 million and an expanded service area including 56 schools in 14 counties.

The Fairmont State GEAR UP Partnership serves more than 6,500 students and families in Barbour, Braxton, Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker and Upshur counties. For more information about GEAR UP, call (304) 367-0436.