好色先生

Standing in the middle of a cattle pasture, Hannah Ahn watched as a veterinarian performed an ultrasound on a cow to determine whether she was pregnant. For the rising freshman at Jack Britt High School who hopes to become a veterinarian, it wasn鈥檛 something she had read about in a textbook 鈥� it was a glimpse into her future.

鈥淚t was very eye-opening because I want to be a veterinarian,鈥� Ahn said. 鈥淚t showed me exactly what I would do, and not from a textbook perspective, but through hands-on experience.鈥�

That experience was just one highlight of , a weeklong residential program offered for the first time at UNCP through a new partnership with the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM). The program brought 50 rising ninth-grade students from southern and southeastern North Carolina to campus this summer for an immersive introduction to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The partnership extends NCSSM鈥檚 STEM outreach into southern and southeastern North Carolina while drawing on UNCP鈥檚 faculty expertise, laboratories and residential campus to give students in the region greater access to immersive STEM experiences.

鈥淭his partnership gives students across southeastern North Carolina more opportunities to discover what is possible through STEM,鈥� said UNCP Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings. 鈥淏y bringing together NCSSM鈥檚 STEM programming with UNC Pembroke鈥檚 faculty and facilities, we are giving young people the opportunity to experience STEM in meaningful, hands-on ways and to see that a future in these fields is within their reach.鈥�

NCSSM Chancellor Todd Roberts said NCSSM was excited to partner with UNCP to extend access to STEM education in southeastern North Carolina

"The setting was wonderful for the program and the faculty and staff at UNCP were incredible to work with,鈥� Roberts said. 鈥淭his summer鈥檚 first group of students engaged deeply with interesting STEM courses in a fantastic university setting. I hope many of them were inspired to explore these disciplines more deeply in high school and college, and even as a possible direction for their career.鈥�

Living in residence halls, attending college-level classes and collaborating with peers from across the region, students experienced university life while exploring STEM through real-world applications. Courses in mathematics, genetics and genomics, and biotechnology were taught by UNCP faculty Doug McBroom, Dr. Nico Pereira and Dr. Maria Santisteban. Outside the classroom, students participated in enrichment activities, toured campus and visited a local cattle farm where they observed veterinary science in action.

Dr. Gerri Cole, associate director of STEM Access and Outreach at NCSSM, said the program is designed to reach students at a pivotal point in their academic journey.

鈥淥ur goal is to provide opportunities for students to have access to STEM during a crucial year,鈥� Cole said. 鈥淩esearch shows that as students enter high school they tend to shy away from challenging subjects. This is an opportunity not only to introduce students to STEM, but to show them that they do belong in these fields.鈥�

For many participants, the week marked their first time living on a college campus.

鈥淚t was amazing,鈥� Ahn said. 鈥淚 can really say that I experienced the college experience, and it made me want to succeed even more, get into college and pursue my academic career.鈥�

She also credited the faculty for making students feel welcome from the moment they arrived.

鈥淭he faculty and professors were very helpful,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey wanted to help you succeed even though they had just met you. They really wanted to help you achieve what you want in life.鈥�

John Trebil, a rising freshman at Swansboro High School, discovered a new interest in biology after participating in a genetics activity involving fruit fly gene annotation.

鈥淢y favorite was having the opportunity to annotate a gene in Drosophila ananassae , a fruit fly species,鈥� Trebil said. 鈥淭hat was really interesting.鈥�

The week also helped him envision what college could look like.

鈥淚t was my first time staying overnight on a college campus for a week,鈥� he said. 鈥淣ow I have an idea of what dorms are like, and I think I鈥檓 well prepared for college one day.鈥�

For Cole, those moments of discovery are exactly what the program is designed to create.

鈥淐ollege is no longer something foreign to them,鈥� she said. 鈥満蒙�先生 like Step Up to STEM show students that higher education is attainable while expanding their vision of what鈥檚 possible. They鈥檙e introduced to subjects they may never have encountered before, and they begin to see themselves succeeding in those fields.鈥�