2014 STEM Summer Workshop

The 2014 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Summer Workshop
(akastem2014.WordPress.com) is a free event sponsored by the Tau Mu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2014 from 9:00AM to 3:00PM at the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute at Virginia Tech. (https://www.vbi.vt.edu/)

The 2014 STEM Summer Workshop aims to expose interested students (Grades 6-8) to activities and experiences in the biomedical sciences and engineering. Students will participate in activities that provide hands-on experience working with basic concepts and features of these fields in the hopes of instilling an interest and possible career aspirations in the biomedical sciences or engineering. The 6-hour workshop is intended to provide activities in a college environment as well as exposure to professionals who have made
careers in these areas of study. Evidence suggests that the next wave of jobs in the American economy will be in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This summer program intends to cultivate an interest and greater understanding of STEM as students continue their educational pursuits. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (AKA) is an international service organization that was founded in 1908 on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. It is the oldest Greek-lettered organization established by African-American college-educated women. Since its charter in 1992, the Tau Mu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is committed to the development of America’s youth and committed to service in the New River Valley. In addition to engaging in mentoring, education, health & wellness, and economic development programs, we feel it is important to aid in developing talented young Americans in pursuit of higher education. 

The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation, established in 1946. The membership consists of 12,000 professional women of color in 276 chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. It is one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of extraordinary women who are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry. The outstanding programming of The Links, Incorporated has five facets which include National Trends and Services, The Arts, Services to Youth, International Trends and Services, and Health and Human Services. (Source: http://www.linksinc.org/about.shtml)
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated is the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African-Americans. Founded at Cornell University (Ithaca, New York) in 1906, Alpha Phi Alpha seeks “to stimulate the ambition of its members; to prepare them for the greatest usefulness in the causes of humanity, freedom, and dignity of the individual; to encourage the highest and noblest form of manhood; and to aid down-trodden humanity in its efforts to achieve higher social, economic and intellectual status.” The Fraternity’s current programs aim to encourage college attendance; provide education for young males ages 12- 15 on sexuality, fatherhood and the role of males in relationships; encourage political awareness and voter empowerment; develop leadership skills among America’s youth; and provide positive mentoring of the young. (Source: http://www.alpha-phi-alpha.com/index.php)
This program is made possible by the generous support of Dr. Kristy Collins, Graduate and Post-Graduate Program Manager for the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI); Dr. Edward J. Smith, Professor of Comparative Genomics; the Virginia Tech Post-Baccalaureate Research and Education Program (PREP); the Virginia Tech Initiative to Maximize Student Development (IMSD) program; the Alpha Kappa Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, The Roanoke Chapter of The Links, Incorporated; and
the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Program at Virginia Tech.

Eligibility for participating in the STEM Summer Workshops requires that the applicant:
• Is a 6th, 7th, or 8th grade student in the upcoming academic year (2014-2015).
• Has strong academic achievement.
• Demonstrates an interest in learning more about experiences in the fields of science, technology,
engineering, or mathematics.
• Submits the following documents:
A Completed Application https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_80TRVT3AQzs60sJ

Application requires a personal Statement (500 words or less)

For more information, please consult our website at http://akastem2014.WordPress.com.

Additional questions may be mailed to TMOAKA@yahoo.com ATTN: Dr. Gena Chandler-Smith, 2014 STEM Summer Workshop Planning Committee.