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
