The first article I wrote for the school newspaper. Published on September 30th.
Science Saturday
Lycoming College’s annual Science Saturday was held last week.
Science Saturday started as a way for the college to showcase the new chemistry and biology building, Heim, and has since been a way for prospective students interested in the sciences to see what Lycoming College has to offer.
Faculty and students from the astronomy and physics, biology, and chemistry departments welcomed high school students and their parents into their labs.
Prospective students had an opportunity to not only see the lab settings each department offers but to meet faculty and students from possible majors. The students have the opportunity to choose from a number of sessions to get a more personalized view of the department that piques their interest. Sessions include meetings with the professors of each science department, and a session devoted to current student that have participated in out of classroom experiences such as internships, research experiences, or even volunteer work.
During the past 15 years it has been Dr. Michelle Briggs, biology, and Dr. Holly Bendorf, chemistry, who have coordinated the session for the out of the classroom experiences. The Saturday session showed prospective students and their parents that “there are great opportunities here,” Dr. Briggs said. The panel of six to nine students from across the science majors also demonstrates to the visiting students what they can accomplish in a few short years at Lycoming College.
Dr. Edward Gabriel, biology, said Science Saturday is a good opportunity for students thinking about attending Lycoming College for school “to see if it feels good.”
With so much information offered in such a small amount of time, Gabriel referred to Science Saturday as a way for students to get “ideas fast.” With all the laboratories and buildings open for the day it really is a good chance for students to check out the campus.
Dr. Christopher Kulp, physics, summed up the event: “Science Saturday is an excellent opportunity for prospective students and parents to learn about our programs in the Department of Astronomy and Physics. The prospective families also get to hear about the various opportunities that are available to our students in both the classroom and the research laboratory. Our goal as the faculty and students of the Department of Astronomy and Physics is to provide an entertaining and informative even for Science Saturday.”
The same is true for the biology and chemistry departments as well.
For a number of current students within each major Science Saturday is the reason they chose Lycoming College over other possible institutions. Dave Kenward, sophomore physics major, said it was the first of his many visits to Lycoming College. The power of an open house where the faculty and the students are at the full disposal of someone making a decision that will resonate for the next four years of their life is a great thing.
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