150 COFFEE MIDDLE SCHOOL HONOR STUDENTS TOUR AEDC, PARTICIPATE IN UTSI SESSIONS

One hundred and fifty “Gold Honor Roll” students from Coffee County Middle School got a taste of graduate school – and pizza – during visits to The University of Tennessee Space Institute last week.

Sixth, seventh, and eighth-graders paid separate visits to the Institute, coordinated by Freda Sherrill, a teacher at the Middle School, and Dr. William Hofmeister, UTSI research professor and Director of the Center for Laser Applications.

Each group visited Arnold Engineering Development Center in the mornings, had a pizza party at UTSI, and then heard presentations by Hofmeister and Jim Wright, a graduate research assistant seeking a master’s degree in Aviation Systems.

“Jim did a great job instructing students on the basic forces involved with flight, lift, drag, thrust, and weight,” said Hofmeister. “I talked about light and lasers and nano materials. These weren’t lectures but really a give and take with lots of questions from the kids.”

In the sessions, Hofmeister also discussed the graduate school experience and encouraged the students to apply themselves while in Middle School, especially in math and science.

Ms. Sherrill, who has been working with the after-school enrichment program, scheduled the visits after meeting Hofmeister, who has placed a high priority on cooperating with area schools in encouraging interest in science and engineering. Later this month they have scheduled two days of “mini-courses” in science and engineering for high school students from Coffee County Central High School in Manchester.

“We want to give the high school students a real taste of the research we do at UTSI,” Hofmeister said. “The response of the faculty has been great. We all want to increase students’ awareness of opportunities in science and engineering.”

Sherrill and other teachers at the Middle School are seeking ways to broaden their students’ career awareness while rewarding those who are advancing in their studies.

“We want to do more for our gifted students,” the teacher said, “so we are working to expand our enrichment program at the Middle School.”

Hofmeister credited Carole Thomas, business manager for the Center for Laser Applications, for organizing the sessions, which brought 47 sixth-graders, 59 seventh-graders, and 44 eighth-graders to the UTSI campus. Andre Abrahams coordinated the AEDC tours.

“We are very pleased that AEDC is willing to support this activity and help us broaden the middle schoolers’ experience,” Thomas said.
 

Dr. William Hofmeister chats with two sixth-graders during the pizza party. Whitney Townsend, left, is from Asbury, and Kolby Hopkins is from Morrison.
 

Eighth-graders from Coffee County Middle School gather around as Dr. William Hofmeister demonstrates fiber optics during their visit to the UT Space Institute.


 

Max Quick assists Dr. William Hofmeister in a light demonstration as fellow eighth-graders watch. 

-- UTSI Photos

Writer: Weldon Payne (931) 393-7222
wpayne@utsi.edu