NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) 20000011199: Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy

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by  NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

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Science, Engineering, Mathematics and
Aerospace Academy
Annual Performance Report
October 1, 1995 - September 30, 1996
Submitted to:
Bettie White
Manager, Minority University
Research and Education Division
Washington, D.C.
Submitted by:
Cuyahoga Community College
700 Carnegie Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
October, 1996
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The 1996-1997 program year was one of expansion and achievement for the Science,
Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy (SEMAA). The program, funded manly by NASA
Headquarters' Office of Equal Opportunity, served over 1600 students in offering science and
mathematics enrichment programs.
We want to acknowledge with gratitude the SEMAA project staff and participants. The project
team included Mr. Cyril Pontillo, Vice President, Business/Community/Economic Development, Mr.
Cullen Johnson, Executive Director, CTED/CPE, Mr. J. Thomas McManamon, Director, SEMAA, the
Program Component Coordinators for SEMAA, Ms. Patricia DeBerry, Ms. Catherine Reed, Ms.
Margaret Boulding, Ms. Pam Charity, SEMAA Program Assistant, Ms. Valerie Noel-Joshua, SEMAA
Administrative Assistants, Ms. Donna-Marie Morris & Ms. Kelly Prebish, SEMAA Parent
Coordinator, Ms. Gail Smith, and SEMAA Hispanic Coordinator, Mr. Luis Gomez.
We especially acknowledge Dr. R. Lynn Bondurant for vision, support, input and all he has
done to make the program strong and to Mr. John Hairston, for his wisdom and guidance. We also
want to thank Cuyahoga Community College, NASA and other institutions', Administrators, Staff
Members and Advisory Board Members for their time and the support they have provided. Without all
their extensive cooperation the SEMAA project could not have succeeded in the task of assisting so
many of our youth in achieving scientific and mathematics awareness.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy (SEMAA) was established in
September, 1993, by Cuyahoga Community College and the NASA Lewis Research Center. Funding
for SEMAA was provided by NASA Headquarters' Office of Equal Employment Opportunities.
SEMAA brought together five preexisting youth programs at Cuyahoga Community College. All the
programs had shared the common goals of:
• Increasing the participation of underrepresented/underserved groups in science, mathematics and
engineering and technology careers.
• Increasing "success" rates of all students interested in science and mathematics.
• Developing partnerships to recognize and support students interested in these fields.
• Supporting continued success of highly successful students.
The framework for each preexisting program allowed SEMAA to have a student population ranging
from kindergarten through the twelfth-grade. This connectivness was the foundation for the many
decisions which would make SEMAA a truly innovative program.
During the Third program year, 1639 students participated in the program of which 1080 were
African Americans: 275 Hispanics ; 222 Caucasians and 62 Asian American and other ethnic
backgrounds.
All SEMAA participants were given the opportunity for learning and developing interests
through "hands-on/minds-on" experiences, field trips, speakers and mentors. All functions were
developed to create an interest and a better knowledge of science, mathematics, engineering and
technology by the SEMAA participants
5.5.
TheSEMAAcomponentswereasharedresponsibilitywiththefollowing institutions
participating:
INSTITUTION GRADE LEVEL
Cuyahoga Community College K-4
Cuyahoga Community College 5-8
Cuyahoga Community College 9-12
Case Western Reserve University 8-12
Cleveland State University 9-12
Lakeland Community College 6-8
Lorain Community College 6-8
Summer components were held at all three campuses of Cuyahoga Community College, as well
as at Case Western Reserve and Cleveland State Universities. For the first time a 9th-12th grade
Aerospace component was implemented at Cuyahoga Community College in 1995. An evaluation
program was done by the Center for Applied Research in Education (CARE) from Cleveland State
University and the database which was developed a year ago was enhanced to allow us to better track
students through the various components of the program.
The Mobile Aeronautics Education Laboratory (MAEL) was completed in May of 1996 and
used by SEMAA for the 9th-12th grade Summer component. The MAEL is considered a leading edge
approach to teaching Math, Science and Aerospace topics. It was visited by the United States Secretary
of Education in May and five members of Congress were present at the dedication along with NASA
Executives from Cleveland and Washington, the President of Cuyahoga Community College, other Tri-
C Executives, and various civic and School Board Leaders. The MAEL will be used for all 9th-12th
grade SEMAA components in the future.
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The closing event for the year was a SEMAA family picnic which was attended by nearly 700
people. It was held at the NASA Lewis picnic grounds with several NASA and Tri-C Executives
attending along with U.S. Congressman Louis Stokes.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ........................................................................................................... i
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... ii
BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................ 1
Establishment ........................................................................................................................ 1
SEMAA Goals ....................................................................................................................... 1
SEMAA Philosophy of Operations ...................................................................................... 1
Database ............................................................................................................................ 7
Evaluation .......................................................................................................................... 8
PROGRAM COMPONENT ....................................................................................................... 9
Living in Space .................................................................................................................... 9
Exploring the Solar System ................................................................................................ 9
Discovering Aeronautics ................................................................................................... 10
Access to Careers in Engineering ..................................................................................... 11
SEMAA/MINORITY ENGINEERS INDUSTRIAL OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM
(MEIOP) ................................................................................................................................ 11
ACCOMPLISHMENTS .............................................................................................................. 11
Grades K-4 ........................................................................................................................... 11
Grades 5-8 ............................................................................................................................ 14
Grades 9-12 .......................................................................................................................... 17
Access to Careers in Engineering for Grades 9-12 ........................................................... 18
NORTHEAST OHIO SCIENCE & MATH CLUB (NEOSMC) ............................................ 21
SEMAA/MINORITY ENGINEERS INDUSTRIAL OPPORTUNITY
(MEIOP) FOR 9-12 Grades ................................................................................................ 22
SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM .................................................................................................. 24
NEW APPROACH TO SELF ACHIEVEMENT ........................................................................ 24
MOBILE AERONAUTICS EDUCATION LABORATORY (MAEL) ..................................
ADVISORY BOARD ....................................................................................................................... 27
RECRUITMENT .............................................................................................................................. 30
ANALYSIS ........................................................................................................................................ 30
PROGRESS DURING THE SECOND YEAR OF SEMAA ............................................................
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GOALS FOR 1996-1997 ................................................................................................................... 32
FINANCIAL INFORMATION ....................................................................................................... 33
CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................................. 34
COMPONENT CHART .................................................................................................................. 35
APPENDIX .......................................................................................................................................
Appendix A - SEMAA Flyers ..................................................................................................
Appendix B - SEMAA Project Team ......................................................................................
Appendix C - Advisory Board Membership ..........................................................................
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Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy
Annual Report
October 1, 1995 - September 30, 1996
BACKGROUND
Establishment
The Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy (SEMAA) was established in
September 1993, as a joint venture by Cuyahoga Community College and the NASA Lewis Research
Center. Funding for SEMAA was provided by NASA Headquarters' Office of Equal Opportunity
Programs. It was intended that SEMAA was to bring together five preexisting youth science related
programs at Cuyahoga Community College to serve as the foundation for expansion of the SEMAA
program. Bringing together the different programs enabled Cuyahoga Community College, working
with NASA Lewis, to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of these youth programs.
SEMAA was established primarily to increase the number of underrepresented and underserved
students interested in science, mathematics, engineering and technology careers. However, at the same
time SEMAA programs and activities are aimed at increasing the success rates of all students interested
in math, science, and engineering through the different programs and activities that are offered.
SEMAA is also establishing partnerships with other science and math stake holders in programs and
activities which recognize and support students interested in science and mathematics and provide for
continued success of highly successful students in science, mathematics, engineering and technology
education.
SEMAA Goals
The following SEMAA goals served as the framework to plan and implement SEMAA's programs and
activities:
To provide academic enrichment and career awareness programs to encourage K-12 students to
acquire a strong academic background in science and math education to prepare them to pursue
undergraduate programs in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology.
• To facilitate the successful transition of students from high school to postsecondary programs in
science, mathematics, engineering, and technology.
• To provide parents with program activities to empower them to participate in the education of their
children and to continue their education with lifelong learning.
• To introduce students and educators to "state-of-the-art" leading edge technology that can utilize
experimentation and research.
As can be seen through the planned programs and activities offered through SEMAA, students can
broaden their backgrounds in science, mathematics and technology and have opportunities to ensure
successful transition from grade school to high school to postsecondary programs in science and
mathematics. It is also very important to work with the parents to empower them to supplement and
support their child(ren)'s experiences in science and mathematics. As a part of SEMAA, students get
to experience "state-of-the-art-" technology, thus reinforcing what they are doing in their classroom but
also augmenting their skills through new experiences.
SEMAA Philosophy of Operations
SEMAA is a set of learning experiences for K-12 grade students which will:
• enable improved participation and success in college preparatory courses in science and
mathematics.
• increase interest and awareness of careers in science, mathematics, engineering and technology.
• impact involvement of parents in ensuring that their children realize the importance of science,
mathematics, engineering and technology in their futures.