FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 25, 2008
FY08-48
Appalachian High School Students and Teachers Spend Two Weeks with National Lab Mentors
OAK RIDGE, Tenn.—While most students and teachers were taking a break from their studies and curriculum planning, 61 select students and teachers from Appalachia chose to spend two weeks of their summer vacation at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) conducting research with top scientists.
This hand-picked group of 42 students and 19 teachers representing 12 different Appalachian states came to Oak Ridge from July 12-25 to experience the latest developments and research in science and technology.
Since 1990, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)/ORNL 2008 Math-Science-Technology Summer Institute has hosted the program, which has provided a total of 317 students and 145 teachers with in-lab learning experiences at one of the country’s most renowned national laboratories and the opportunity to participate in several East Tennessee field trips along the way.
The students were nominated by their state governor and chosen to participate in the program by ARC based on academic and leadership potential.
After arriving in Oak Ridge, the students were divided into eight teams led by mentors and scientists from ORNL. The teams were assigned projects with topics ranging from robotic systems, to carbon fibers for fuel-efficient vehicles and stream ecology.
ARC/ORNL 2008 Math-Science-Technology Summer Institute student Jeffrey Elswick, right, from Owsley County High School in Booneville, Ky., prepares to demonstrate a robot his team built as part of their Nuclear Science and Technology Division/Robotics Team II project. Fellow team member Braethun Bharathae-Lane, left, from East Wilkes High School in Ronda, N.C., looks on.
High-resolution version of photo
Justin Glass, a rising junior at Indian Valley High School in Gnadenhutten, Ohio, spent the last two weeks with four other student team members studying environmental stressors and their control.
"We got to use a million dollar microscope," he said. "Learning all this new technology… it’s been amazing."
The teachers divided into four teams and also participated in research, which focused on subjects such as chemistry, x-rays, forestry studies and computer problem solving.
"I plan to develop an online grade book when I return to school," said Laura Morris, a mathematics teacher from The School of Inquiry and Life Sciences in Asheville, N.C.
The students and teachers also were able to visit various local attractions. They were treated to a Tennessee Smokies baseball game, toured the Mayfield Dairy and the Lost Sea, and visited the American Museum of Science and Energy. The participants were also given tours of the Spallation Neutron Source, Pellissippi State Technical Community College, and the University of Tennessee’s Departments of Anthropology and Veterinary Medicine, and the College of Engineering.
The program concluded in a ceremony on July 25 that featured presentations, demonstrations and skits of the final group research projects and comments from ARC Education Program Manager Jeffrey Schwartz; ORNL Deputy Director for Science and Technology Jim Roberto; and ORAU President Ron Townsend.
Institute Participants
| Students | High School | Home Town |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Abbott | Buckhorn High School | Buckhorn, KY |
| Kenneth Arble | Bradford Area High School | Bradford, PA |
| Megan Atwell | Bland High School | Bland, VA |
| Cassie Baker | Woodruff High School | Spartanburg, SC |
| Brandy Bearden | John T. Simpson | Easley, SC |
| Braethun Bharathae-Lane | East Wilkes High School | Ronda, NC |
| Ricky Bragg | Lincoln County High School | Hamlin, WV |
| Noeli Cantera | Woodruff High School | Woodruff, SC |
| Tyler Costello | Bradford Area High School | Bradford, PA |
| Chloe Craine | Ashe County High School West | Jefferson, NC |
| Jennifer Davis | Fort Hill High School | Cumberland, MD |
| Mary Dentinger | Fort Hill High School | Cumberland, MD |
| Erika Deshon | EastJackson Comprehensive High School | Commerce, GA |
| Logan Elliott | Lafayette High School | LaFayette, GA |
| Jeffrey Elswick | Owsley County High School | Booneville, KY |
| Mykel Gaughan | Fort Hill High School | Cumberland, MD |
| Justin Glass | Indian Valley High School | Gnadenhutten, OH |
| Jesse Griffith | Jackson Independent High School | Jackson, KY |
| Ethan Hamblin | Buckhorn High School | Buckhorn, KY |
| Rebecca Harrison | Cobleskill-Richmondville High School | Richmondville, NY |
| Brett Harvey | Jackson High School | Jackson, KY |
| Haley Heavner | Fort Hill High School | Cumberland, MD |
| Aaron Hight | Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science | Columbus, MS |
| Brandon Hooper | John T. Simpson | Easley, SC |
| Katrina Ireland | The School of Inquiry and Life Sciences at Asheville | Asheville, NC |
| Maverick Irwin | Bradford Area High School | Bradford, PA |
| Luther Lambert | Lincoln County High School | Hamlin, WV |
| Joshua Lonthair | Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science | Columbus, MS |
| Robert Mabe | Bland High School | Bland, VA |
| Benjamin Murphy | Seneca High School | Seneca, SC |
| Jonathan Nelson | Bland High School | Bland, VA |
| Ebony Pannell | Tupelo High School | Tupelo, MS |
| Kelly Plumley | Lincoln County High School | Hamlin, WV |
| Jennifer Robinson | Jackson High School | Jackson, KY |
| Kimberly Savage | Alvin C. York Institute | Jamestown, TN |
| Dylan Stein | Hornell High School | Arkport, NY |
| Robyn Sturgill | Rockcastle County High School | Mt Vernon, KY |
| Erik Wake | Avoca Central School | Avoca, NY |
| Matthew Willis | Lynchburg-Clay High School | Lynchburg, OH |
| Andrew Wilson | Alvin C. York Institute | Jamestown, TN |
| Sarah Wood | Fannin Co. High School | Blue Ridge, GA |
| Jared Yoder | Indian Valley High School | Gnadenhutten, OH |
| Teachers | High School | Home Town |
|---|---|---|
| Jennifer Cooke | Graham High School | Bluefield, VA |
| Jason Dooley | Monroe County High School | Tompkinsville, KY |
| Kari Everett | Bath County High School | Hot Springs, VA |
| Marvin Feldner | Shenandoah High School | Sarahsville, OH |
| Anthony Fleury | Greater Nanticoke Area High School | Northumberland, PA |
| Jean Green | Jasper Troupsburg Central School | Jasper, NY |
| Larry Hamlin | TC Robertson High School | Asheville, NC |
| Jennifer Leisner | Bald Eagle Area High School | Wingate, PA |
| Norrissa Martin | Bradley Central High School | Cleveland, TN |
| Steven McClendon | Russell County High School | Russell Springs, KY |
| Laura Morris | The School of Inquiry and Life Sciences at Asheville | Asheville, NC |
| Yoana Picazo | West Carter High School | Olive Hill, KY |
| Becky Ramsey | Lumpkin County High School | Dahlonega, GA |
| Dennis Reed | Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science | Columbus, MS |
| Adam Riazi | Lincoln County High School | Hamlin, WV |
| Ashley Sexton | Bland High School | Bland, VA |
| Pamela Ulicny | Tri Valley Jr/Sr High School | Hegins, PA |
| Rosalie Wolfe | Vinton County High School | McArthur, OH |
| Adelia Wright | Tupelo High School | Tupelo, MS |
The Appalachian Regional Commission is a unique federal-state partnership established by Congress in 1965 to bring Appalachia into the mainstream of the American economy. Through development of the 3,090-mile Appalachian Development Highway System and a range of development programs in areas such as education, training, health care, telecommunications, entrepreneurship, job creation and basic infrastructure, ARC programs help reduce isolation and improve the lives and economic opportunities of the 23 million people living in 410 counties across 13 states that make up Appalachia.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory is managed by UT-Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) is a university consortium leveraging the scientific strength of 99 major research institutions to advance science and education by partnering with national laboratories, government agencies and private industry.