January 25, 2013
Media Advisory – Middle School Outreach Program
Faculty with Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s automotive and aviation programs are presenting a hands-on afterschool program on science, technology, engineering and mathematics to students at Carbondale Middle School through Feb. 14.
Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to cover the classes, which run from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m., Monday through Thursday, at the middle school, 1150 E. Grand Ave. The six-week program uses examples from the aviation and automotive fields in lessons that involve about 40 sixth- through eighth-grade students. The lessons are part of the middle school’s Cougar SWAG (Students With a Goal) initiative, which assists students with life and character-building skills.
The educational offerings over the six-week program include lessons and demonstrations involving sound waves and radio waves, rocketry and gliders, hydrogen/alternative fuel and autonomous vehicle technology.
The SIU Carbondale instructors involved with this community service project include Ralph Tate, associate professor, and Omar Trinidad, assistant professor, automotive technology; Lorelei Ruiz, associate professor and Steven Goetz, assistant instructor, aviation management and flight, and Dennis Hannon, assistant professor, aviation technologies.
For information regarding the SIU aviation and automotive programs’ involvement and schedule, contact Goetz at 618/453-9258 or Trinidad at 618/453-4024.
Contact Stuart Parks, director of the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant program at Carbondale Middle School, at 618/889-4615 to make arrangements to cover the afterschool program.