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30 Jul 2010
Ninety students graduate from Rogers Explorers program at University of the Cumberlands, Lindsey Wilson College, and Eastern Kentucky University
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Ninety Southern and Eastern Kentucky students—-all rising ninth-graders—put their math and science skills to work this summer as Rogers Explorers in the largest group of participants to graduate in the history of the four-year program.
“The Rogers Explorers program focuses on developing skills in leadership, technology, entrepreneurship, and community service,” Jessica Melton, associate director of leadership and training for The Center, said. “Explorers strive to further enhance their math and science skills and develop their leadership potential as the region’s next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs.”
During the summer, Explorers completed hands-on activities in math and science and developed critical leadership skills at the University of the Cumberlands, Lindsey Wilson College, and at the newest host site on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University (EKU).
“Many of the activities encouraged Rogers Explorers to be creative thinkers and use the skills they learned in the classroom to work through complex and difficult problems,” Melton said. “These students exhibited they have what it takes to begin to step up in leadership roles in their home communities and throughout the region in Southern and Eastern Kentucky.”
At Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia—the first camp of the summer season held June 6-8—Rogers Explorers learned about the transformation of mechanical energy to electrical energy.
“Through this hands-on experience,” instructor Heather Spoon said, “students received knowledge about how to generate electricity several different ways, and to have fun generating their own electricity by using their fingers and few simple parts.”
On the campus of the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Explorers took a closer look at the stars and planets through active participation in the STARLAB planetarium.
At this session, held later on that same week from June 9-11, instructor Larry Newquist challenged participants to work together as a team to solve mathematical problems and research information in response to a simulated crash on the planet Mars.
Students used their math and science skills to determine distance and time needed to return to base and to decide what could and what should be done to make it back to base.
Explorers on the campus of EKU in Richmond, which just finished the last of the three Rogers Explorer camps on July 23, toured the aviation facilities and even took a spin in a flight simulator.
Students conducted takeoffs, maneuvers, and landings in the flight simulator under the guidance of an instructor pilot.
“Many were able to land a plane the very first time they flew it,” C.J. Land, chief flight instructor and assistant professor at EKU’s aviation program, said. These students “were an outstanding group of young people who were able to see something they never thought existed so close to home.”
Explorers spend three days and two nights on a college campus living in the dorms and experiencing life as a future college student. Each participant is recognized at a graduation program on the final day of the program.
All students are selected from within The Center’s 42-county primary service area when they are an eighth-grader in middle school.
The Center for Rural Development—the Center of Excellence for rural Kentucky and the nation—provides economic and community development programs to residents in a 42-county primary service area of Southern and Eastern Kentucky, and is home to several statewide and national technology-based programs. For more information on programs available through The Center, visit www.centertech.com.
Photo Caption 1: University of the Cumberlands
Photo Caption 2: Lindsey Wilson College
Photo Caption 3: Eastern Kentucky University |
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