ANSEP hosts 60 students at Acceleration Academy for advanced STEM learning experiences
by Michelle Saport |
Last week, 60 high school students from across Alaska arrived at the UAA campus to participate in the Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program (ANSEP) Acceleration Academy. During the five-week summer session, these high schoolers will earn credit toward a college degree while living on the UAA campus and learning about career opportunities that exist in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.
Throughout the academy, students will earn college credit at morning classes taught by university faculty and gain hands-on STEM experience during afternoon activities led by industry professionals. Team-based learning activities range from building biomaterials and unmanned aerial vehicles to outbreak response and carbon fiber training sessions.
"The goal of Acceleration Academy is to develop students academically and socially for college while fostering their interest in STEM career fields," said ANSEP Founder and Vice Provost Herb Ilisaurri Schroeder. "ANSEP is proud to say that our success is proven every day by our students. Many Acceleration Academy students surpass their peers and enter college having already completed much of the math and science credits needed for their degree. Some are even ready for calculus 3 and differential equations as college freshmen."
Acceleration Academy students advance one level or more in math or science each summer at a rate of 95 percent. Students benefit from a college residential experience, peer socialization and college scholarships to reward completion. Additionally, students become familiar with the UAA campus and build lasting relationships with youth who share similar interests and goals.
ANSEP's longitudinal model begins at the middle school level and continues through high school and into college undergraduate, graduate and doctorate programs. ANSEP students at every level are successful at rates far exceeding national numbers. To learn more about ANSEP and its components, visit www.ansep.net.
"ANSEP hosts 60 students at Acceleration Academy for advanced STEM learning experiences" is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.