Students prepare for careers in science

Students needed a science teacher's recommendation to get into the program.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Fourteen Mahoning Valley high school students have been selected to participate in a program designed to encourage minority students to pursue careers in engineering and health care.
The Science Technology, Engineering, Math and Medical (STEMM) Careers Academy, a one-year program, is being coordinated through the Mahoning Valley Education and Workforce Initiative, a program developed by the Regional Chamber in cooperation with Youngstown State University and Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine.
It's being funded by a $115,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
The program was opened to students who would be sophomores, juniors or seniors this fall.
They had to submit an application, write an essay on why they want to participate, secure the endorsement of a science teacher and submit transcripts of their grades.
Participants
Those selected and the schools they attend are: Youngstown Early College: Ellis Payne V, Sterling Vaught; Hubbard High School: LaTasia Morris; Kennedy Christian High School: Harold Brown Jr.; Liberty High School: Abel Ayana, Anthony Nwankwo, Daniel Oder and Esther Oder; Mathews High School: Sydney Jacobs; Salem High School: Heather Hergenroder; and Ursuline High School: Ashley Macklin, Victoria McBride, Antonia Nwankwo and James E. Toliver.
The program is a college preparatory and pipeline program for academically talented students who might enter engineering and pre-medical programs at YSU and the YSU-NEOUCOM combined accelerated bachelors of science and doctor of medicine program.
It begins Monday with a two-week series of workshops at both YSU and the NEOUCOM campus at Rootstown, offering academic reinforcement to help the students enhance their study, time management, standardized test taking and interviewing skills.
Emphasis will be given to the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills through enrichment in chemistry, biology and math, and an introduction to a variety of learning situations including problem-based learning using case studies, small group discussions, lectures, labs and computers.
Academic instruction, mentoring, shadowing and hands-on experiences will be provided by YSU and NEOUCOM faculty, as well as graduate engineering, science, mathematics, and medical students, physicians and allied health care professionals.
Each student completing the summer portion of the program will get a computer allowing him or her to participate in Web-based group projects with faculty mentors at YSU and NEOUCOM. They get to keep the computers.
During the school year, academic instruction, mentoring, shadowing and hands-on experiences will be provided quarterly. Students will be required to make group project presentations in May 2007.