April 25, 2018

Carrollton students invited to give national presentation on SVSU-run Chief Science Officers Program

Two Carrollton High School students traveled to Washington, D.C. to present on the work they have been doing to increase interest in math and science among their peers. During the academic year, Hudson Holm and Emily Jaremba have been participating in the Chief Science Officers program organized by Saginaw Valley State University.

Earlier this month, they shared lessons they have learned through the program at the STEM Ecosystems 2018 Spring National Community of Practice Convention – in conjunction with the U.S. News & World Report STEM Solutions Conference – in Washington, D.C.

The Carrollton students were joined by Adrianne Cole, SVSU director of STEM, and Craig Coopersmith, a Carrollton high school science teacher and SVSU alumnus. They presented on two topics: “Growing Significant Business-to-Student Partnerships” and “Fostering Cross-Sector Collaborations.”

The Chief Science Officers program is a student-led initiative to increase interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Middle school and high school students are selected for the program and are then empowered to influence a wide range of STEM opportunities in their schools and communities.

SVSU received a $40,000 grant from The Dow Chemical Company Foundation to run the community-minded pilot program at middle schools and high schools in Bay, Midland and Saginaw counties for the 2017-18 school year. It is modeled after a similar program that has proven successful in Arizona.

While they were in Washington, D.C, Holm and Jaremba visited the NASA Headquarters met with Sandra Cauffman, deputy director of the Earth Sciences Division. They also had a chance to collaborate with students participating in chief science officer programs in Arizona and Oregon.