Science projects took center stage for a select group of GLOW region middle school students who were honored by Genesee Community College's Accelerated Enrollment (ACE) Programs during an awards ceremony on June 4, 2015. This winter, ACE Partner school districts across the Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming County region recommended more than 100 students for the fourth annual cohort of the Math Science Preparatory Program at GCC.
Embedded within the competitive application process was an opportunity for two students to earn a full scholarship to participate in their first year of the Math Science Preparatory (MSP) program. Two students were selected from among ten Scholar of the Year finalists to win the annual award, and all the finalists were recognized at the science fair competition and awards event on June 4 at GCC. The scholarship winners and 2015 Math Science Scholars of the Year are Ariana deSa-Frias, of St. Joseph's School, and Kellen Bell, of Perry Central School (See photo).
Ariana Frias earned the highest mark in the competition by performing exceptionally well on the competitive placement examination - scoring well above the entrance criteria for the program. Her score was combined with her exceptional science fair project demonstrating the use of electronics and software to measure and resolve a common problem in dance – precise timing! Outside of the classroom Ariana is a competitive dancer and avid musician, and sings with the Eastman Children's choir.
Kellen Bell's experiment in atmosphere creation astonished the judges. His creative application of biochemistry to generate CO2 inside of a biodome may likely be applied in the future as he pursues his plans to explore the universe. With a strong desire to become an agent of change, Kellen dreams of contributing to a world where knowledge is free to everyone, and he sees science as a means to achieve ambitious goals.
ACE program specialist Karlyn M. Finucane says she and other members of the GCC ACE team are looking forward to working with all of the students who were nominated for the Math Science Preparatory award throughout the next several years. "The application process this year required students to demonstrate their individual interest in learning math and performing science. The results were impressive and the entire Math Science Preparatory Team is looking forward to working with these exceptionally bright and ambitious students," reports Ms. Finucane.
In alphabetical order, students accepted to participate in the 2015 cohort of the MSP Program include:
Isabella Asmus ~ Akron Central School
Amelia Beckman ~ Batavia City Schools
Sophie Beckman ~ Batavia City Schools
Kellen Bell * § ~ Perry Central School
Jason Berry ~ Batavia City Schools
Julianna Bizub ~ Alden Central Schools
Caleb Carr ~ Perry Central Schools
Alwyn Cayea ~ Medina Central Schools
Emily Chaback ~ Byron-Bergen Central Schools
Anthony Cometto * ~ Alden Central Schools
Ricky Denson ~ Byron-Bergen Central Schools
Zachary Dimick ~ Attica Central Schools
Eden Dodge ~ Alexander Central Schools
Ava Flores ~ Oakfield Central Schools
Tate Fonda ~ Batavia City Schools
Ariana deSa - Frias * § St. Joseph's Schools Batavia
Katy Geiger * ~ Akron Central Schools
Sara Goodman * ~ Byron-Bergen Central Schools
Jared Graham ~ Oakfield – Alabama Central Schools
Carter Green ~ Medina Central Schools
Zachary Hall ~ Oakfield - Alabama Central Schools
Ashley Harmon ~ Attica Central Schools
Autumn Harris ~ Letchworth Central Schools
Mikayla Hickey ~ Alexander Central Schools
Paige Jegierski ~ Alden Central Schools
Natalie Karmazyn ~ Akron Central Schools
Ian Kemp ~ LeRoy Central Schools
Colby Leggo ~ Byron-Bergen Central Schools
Pierce McPherson ~ Letchworth Central Schools
Connor Mooney* ~ Caledonia Mumford Central Schools
Rowan Nothnagle ~ Caledonia Mumford Central Schools
Danica Porter * ~ Oakfield – Alabama Central Schools
Derek Pruski ~ Oakfield – Alabama Central Schools
Abigail Richter ~ Caledonia Mumford Central Schools
Andrew Ricupito ~ St. Joseph's School Batavia
Ethan Riggs ~ LeRoy Central Schools
Victoria Russell ~ Warsaw Central Schools
Shawn Searls * ~ St. Joseph's School Batavia
Bernard Skalny ~ Batavia City Schools
Ethan Tillotson ~ Pavilion Central Schools
Elissa Uveino ~ Perry Central Schools
FaithAnn Vanderwalker * ~ Medina Central Schools
Zachary Wagner ~ Batavia City Schools
Lucas Wicks * ~ Akron Central Schools
Key:
* Scholar of the Year Finalist
§ 2015 Math Science Scholar of the Year
ACE Programs offer area high school students a variety of opportunities to pursue college credit concurrently with their high school education. MSP is an enrichment opportunity leading to an accelerated degree completion opportunity through which participating students will be able to make significant progress toward an associate degree in Math and Science or Engineering, and a few very determined students can earn their high school diploma with an associate degree later the same year!
