Destiny Bayemake, a rising sophomore at Bowie High School, didn’t think she was going to like the six-week summer science program that culminates today at Bowie State University.
For one thing, students aren’t allowed to bring their cell phones, and there’s limited free time.
But the science and math courses are free, and she had the chance to sample college life while living on campus Monday through Friday with nearly 70 other high school students from around Prince George’s County who participated in the six-week Pre-College Science Scholars Academy.
“I never thought it would be this interesting and that I would have fun … but overall, it was fun and educational,” said Bayemake, 15, who finished up her first summer in the program with her classmates today.
Funded as part of a five-year, $12.4 million grant from the National Science Foundation and now in its third summer, the academy at Bowie State is designed to increase participation by minority and other underrepresented groups in science and science teaching, said program manager Anisha Campbell, assistant professor in the university’s Department of Natural Sciences.Destiny Bayemake, a rising sophomore at Bowie High School, didn’t think she was going to like the six-week summer science program that culminates today at Bowie State University. For one thing, students aren’t allowed to bring their cell phones, and there’s limited free time. But the science and math courses are free, and she had the chance to sample college life while living on campus Monday through Friday with nearly 70 other high school students from around Prince George’s County who participated in the six-week Pre-College Science Scholars Academy.
“I never thought it would be this interesting and that I would have fun … but overall, it was fun and educational,” said Bayemake, 15, who finished up her first summer in the program with her classmates today.
Funded as part of a five-year, $12.4 million grant from the National Science Foundation and now in its third summer, the academy at Bowie State is designed to increase participation by minority and other underrepresented groups in science and science teaching, said program manager Anisha Campbell, assistant professor in the university’s Department of Natural Sciences. Students who commit to three summers can earn eight college-level credits by taking a college-level biology class their second summer and a college-level chemistry class their third summer. To be accepted, they must write a 750-word essay that shows they are interested in pursuing a career in science, technology, engineering or math, known as the STEM disciplines. Students must also supply two letters of recommendation from eighth- and ninth-grade science teachers. During their first summer, between ninth and 10th grades, students are introduced to college study skills and also take introductory classes in math, chemistry and biology.
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