| | |

CAS Scholarships Top Science Fair Awards

Photos By: Lisa Ventre, photojournalist

   The people of UC’s College of Applied Science (CAS) know the importance of STEMM (science, technology, engineering, math and medicine) activities. CAS has been a strong supporter of the UC Science & Engineering Expo (SEE) from its start in 2005. Not only has CAS sponsored the fair through an annual scholarship, but CAS faculty also have a strong presence both on the steering committee and as judges at the fair itself.

No one needs to explain to a college of applied science the importance of getting involved. And involved they are. Now they have kicked that involvement up a notch, in the form of additional scholarship money.

For UC’s fifth-annual Science & Engineering Expo, CAS is offering five $5,000 scholarships — the largest donation by any one sponsor. Their support has raised the total sponsorships for 2009 to more than $73,000 in awards and scholarships, an increase of almost 50% over 2008.

“We know the importance of the STEMM fields,” says Associate Dean Pat Kumpf. “The students who bring their superior projects to the science fair are exactly the kind of students we want in CAS. The CAS Technology scholars have 3.5 GPAs in their high schools and already understand the importance of STEMM. These are honor roll students already.”

Hands-on STEMM activities are what CAS is about. Each STEMM course has a laboratory associated with it and the lab portion is taught by the course instructor.

“We build more camaraderie that way between the instructor and the students, and a better fit between the class and the lab,” says Kumpf. “So not only are our STEMM courses ‘hands-on’ for the students, but they’re ‘hands-on’ for the instructors, too.”

James Grizzle is a senior in the Department of Information Technology at the College of Applied Science. He transferred from Computer Support Technology from Raymond Walters College during the autumn quarter of 2007. “My program is on the bleeding edge of technology,” he says. “Our professors teach from the latest software development environments and operating systems. Our department follows advice given by an industry advisory panel to keep our program one step ahead of the game.”

IT major James Grizzle likes the atmosphere in CAS.

James likes the atmosphere at CAS. “We are a tightly knit student body and everyone knows each other,” he says. “I am blessed to be a part of the Department of Information Technology.”

James says that he chose the College of Applied Science due to its strong co-op program and senior design graduation requirement.

“Having real world experience makes a graduate drastically more marketable to the industry. The co-op and senior design programs make students ready to hit the ground running at their first career,” he notes. “The small class sizes and welcoming student body helped steer my decision toward the College of Applied Science.”

James points out that CAS is one of only ten schools in the nation to be certified by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) in information technology, “meaning that our school actually gives information technology diplomas compared to competing universities that offer an IT program but cannot provide students with a genuine IT diploma.”

Associate Dean Kumpf notes that CAS has opportunities for students interested in bachelor’s degrees in the following STEMM areas:

• Architectural Engineering Technology
• Chemical Technology
• Computer Engineering Technology
• Construction Management
• Electrical Engineering Technology
• Fire and Safety Engineering Technology
• Horticulture — Business Track
• Horticulture — Scientific Track
• Information Technology
• Mechanical Engineering Technology

“There are great opportunities in our college for women and minorities, too,” Kumpf adds, “and there are more scholarship opportunities coming.”

Ashley Snead, a first-year architectural engineering technology (AET) student, says that enrolling in CAS was the best decision of her life.

“I loved architecture, so when I was a senior I applied to DAAP but was turned down,” she explains. “At the time I was bummed about it and I figured that I would just go to Ohio State for mechanical engineering where I had already been accepted, when one day I got a letter in the mail about the AET program. I was intrigued.”

Ashley says that the AET program combined facets of both majors that she loved into one: architectural design and the engineering principals of feasibility and structures.

“When I went to the CAS open house I immediately fell in love with the place,” she says. “At CAS you get the small college feel with the benefits and opportunities of a major university. The class sizes are unheard of in college. I have maybe 20 students in each of my classes and all of my classes are taught by professors. I will not have a single TA teaching me while I am at CAS. The professors are also very nice and truly care about each student. Teaching is their number-one priority.

Ashley also points out that because CAS is ABET accredited she has a wide range of choices for her master’s degree.

“I can get it in architecture, civil engineering or structural engineering,” she says. “It also helps with co-ops. We are required in the AET program to complete a minimum of six co-ops with an optional seventh. This gives me the opportunity to make roughly $30,000 while I am still in school. This means that with some scholarships and little money saved up on the side, I can leave college little to no debt, therefore allowing me to immediately be able to pursue future ventures wherever they may be without having to worry about a giant student loan debt hanging over my head.”

“I really believe that going to CAS was one of the best decisions of my life,” Ashley says. “The College of Applied Science has become my home away from home.”