23rd Annual MSEN Day
released by state MSEN office May 7, 2009
Students from the Western Carolina University Pre-College Program made an impressive showing at the 23rd annual MSEN Day, held on Saturday April 4th at Winston-Salem State University. Over 700 talented middle school and high school students from across the State met to compete in an exciting array of mathematics and science competitions. MSEN Day is a highlight in the NC-MSEN Pre-College Program calendar, which seeks to broaden the pool of students pursuing mathematics and science-based majors and careers.
NC-MSEN oversees Pre-College Program sites at East Carolina University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, NC Agricultural & Technical State University, North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Western Carolina University, and well as Winston-Salem State University. Middle school and high school students participate in year-round programs at these sites, and students from all these locations participated in MSEN Day.
Following registration at 9:00 AM, the participants attended an opening ceremony. Remarks were provided by Dr. Vincent Snipes, Director of the NC-MSEN Center for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, Winston-Salem State University; Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Jessica Bailey, Winston-Salem State University; Dr. Verna L. Holoman, Executive Director of the North Carolina Mathematics and Science Education Network, UNC Center for School Leadership Development; and Dr. Rita L. Fuller, Associate Director of the Pre-College Program, also of the North Carolina Mathematics and Science Education Network.
Following the ceremony, the students broke out into specialized teams to compete for honors in the challenges listed below:
Teams of two students competed in the construction of pressurized bottle rockets, launching them for maximum time aloft. In the Middle School Division, first place was taken by Western Carolina University Pre-College Program students Anna Pierce and Lindsay Kihnel. Kasey Marshall made valuable contributions regarding the construction of the winning bottle rocket.
Teams of two students competed in the construction of towers made of drinking straws and basic connectors, with the goal of supporting the most weight at the greatest height. In the Middle School Division, third place was taken by Western Carolina University Pre-College Program students Jake Pierce and Brent Berry.
Teams of two students competed in a parachute egg drop, constructing parachutes to achieve a maximum glide time, and safely land the egg they carry. In the Middle School Division second place was taken by Western Carolina University Pre-College Program students Alvin Zhang and Brenda Arellano.
Teams of three students competed in a poster art competition, creating posters ‘on the spot’ to illustrate the theme kept secret beforehand. In the Middle School Division, second place was taken by Western Carolina University Pre-College Program students Jessica Slagle, Kitt Milstead and Monica Millsaps.
After lunch, while scores were tallied, Dr. Juliette Bell, Professor of Chemistry at Fayetteville State University gave an inspiring keynote address. The awards ceremony concluded the day.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, NC-MSEN is a constituent program in the UNC Center for School Leadership Development, UNC-General Administration. NC-MSEN has two primary components: teacher professional development and a Pre-College Program. It provides statewide leadership for the improvement of mathematics and science teaching and learning in order to: 1) strengthen the quality and increase the size of the teaching base in science and mathematics education and 2) increase the pool of students who graduate from North Carolina’s high schools prepared to pursue majors that lead to careers in mathematics, science, technology, engineering and teaching.
For more information about NC-MSEN, visit www.unc.edu/depts/msen.
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