Lenoir-Rhyne program
Jim Yang of China Grove was one of 16 ethnic high school students from across North Carolina who recently participated in the CIMAS program at Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory.
CIMAS stands for Carolina Institute for a Multicultural Approach to Science.
The CIMAS Scholars participated in three weeks of science and math enrichment activities while living on campus. The program is free to the students and their families. All expenses are paid by Lenoir-Rhyne College and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund’s Student Science Enrichment Program. BWF is an independent private foundation headquartered in Research Triangle Park that supports biomedical research and science education activities.
The program is designed to increase the numbers of ethnic minority students who enter college degree programs in science or mathematics and ultimately pursue careers in these fields. The students were selected through a competitive application process.
The CIMAS Scholars participated in a variety of activities in the areas of mathematics, computing sciences, biology, physics and chemistry. Lenoir-Rhyne professors serve as faculty for the program. The students created Web pages about themselves and wrote a blog about their experiences. Some of the activities included researching kudzu, studying probabilities and genetics and playing a code-breaking game.
For more information visitthe CIMAS Web site at www.lrc.edu/cimas2007.
During the coming academic year, the CIMAS Scholars and their families will be invited to participate in follow-up workshops. On these occasions, they will be able to interact with research scientists visiting campus.
Conference paper
Dr. Philip Acree Cavalier, dean of general education and associate professor of English at Catawba College, recently presented a paper at a two-day international conference.
The conference, “The Idea of the City: Early Modern, Modern, and Post Modern Locations and Communities,” was held at the University of Northampton in England.
Cavalier’s paper explored the ways in which late 19th Century authors such as William Dean Howells and Henry James understand and describe the process of acquiring knowledge in and about increasingly modern and complex American cities such as New York and Boston.
Study skills course
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is offering a new course designed to help students develop good study skills and achieve success in and out of the classroom.
The course, ACA 115, is required for all new students in an associate-degree or diploma-track program. However, college faculty and administrators believe all students, regardless of their academic and career goals, could benefit from the course.
Class topics range from how to study effectively and efficiently to developing goal-setting and critical-thinking skills and performing self assessments.
Muzak’s summer camp
Dr. David Lee Fish, an associate professor of music at Catawba College, and two Catawba music business majors participated in Muzak’s Summer Noise! Camp in Los Angeles in July.
The camp is sponsored by the Muzak’s Heart & Soul Foundation and brings teens from across the country together for two weeks each summer for an up-close view of the music industry.
Fish spoke to 31 high school students attending the camp at California State University Northridge about the competitive advantages of pursuing a college education. Fish coordinates CATAWBA ROCKS!, one of the few college degree programs designed specifically for performers and songwriters of popular music.
Catawba College music business majors April Hafner of Wausau, Wis., and Nicholas O’Kelley of Asheboro were camp counselors and received all expenses paid, including their flights, as well as a stipend for their services.
Campers are exposed to music professionals, managers, lawyers and agents in the music industry through on-site presentations and field trips. For more information, visit www.noise.muzak.com.