VT College of Science Magazine Spring 2009 | Page 13

The Virginia Tech Summer Training Academy for Rising Students (VT STARS)
strives to strengthen academic performance in youth from low-income, culturally disadvantaged, or first-generation college-bound high school students.
plications for community engagement.

Madeline Schreiber, associate professor of geosciences, who was actively
involved in the 2007 session.
During the weeklong programs, students were immersed in technical, exto strengthen what they had learned in the classroom. During the environmental module that Schreiber organized, daily topics included defining energy and energy conversions, coal and climate change, biomass energy and
its economical impacts, and economic and psychological aspects of environmental behaviors. Field trips were taken to the Cascades, the New River, and

M a g a z i n e

perimental, and hands-on learning as well as field trips and other activities

S C i e n C e

“In years past, it has been a tremendous experience for everyone involved,” said

o f

The program is coordinated by Ed McPherson, director of technology ap-

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C o l l e g e

oUtReaCh pRogRaM helpS
MotiVate high SChool StUdentS
to ReaCh foR the StaRS

the Virginia Tech power plant.

dents must show some promise and some level of interest in enriched academic studies.
Program activities and events are designed to provide the conceptual competency and cognitive familiarity necessary to narrow the gap between racial
and ethnic groups in high school math and science programs. The program
also increases the motivation, persistence, and proficiency of disadvantaged
boys and girls in taking demanding math and science high school college
preparatory courses.
“Participating in the VT STARS program gave College of Science faculty, staff,
and students the opportunity to share our passion and expertise in energy
and environ