MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Beginning Sunday, July 12, nearly 200 high school juniors and seniors will temporarily call West Virginia University’s Morgantown campus home as they participate in two camps hosted by the Health Sciences and Technology Academy (HSTA).
From July 12 through 17, West Virginia high school juniors will participate in a week-long Biomedical Camp and upperclassmen will participate in a Senior Camp. The camps are part of HSTA’s Summer Institute, a statewide series of activities offering intensive training in math, science, and research. They will also develop research projects that they can then deliver in their home communities in 26 West Virginia counties.
HSTA strives to increase the number of rural and or first generation West Virginia high school students pursuing degrees in health sciences and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields. The program is also designed to have long-reaching effects in the state by training and recruiting more healthcare providers to provide care in medically underserved communities.
While the students are on campus they will spend their time with a dedicated group of twelve fellow HSTA students, a WVU faculty member, and a WVU student mentor. HSTA teachers from high schools across the Mountain State will also participate in the Biomedical Camp. The students will work closely with their groups on specific health sciences research projects for the entire week. When the camp concludes they’ll be able to take the projects back to their communities for further exploration.
When they are not in the classroom or the lab, the students will get to know campus life through activities like scavenger hunts, time at the WVU Student Recreation Center, bowling and other social gatherings with other HSTA camp participants.
“I really enjoy getting to know people with similar interests while learning about biomedical sciences,” shared Caitlyn Fulp, a junior at Princeton Senior High School in Mercer County. The Biomedical Camp will be Caitlyn’s second HSTA camp experience, having previously participated in HSTA’s general science camp as a freshman.
“HSTA really helps kids become leaders in their schools, in their job field and in life,” added Caitlyn. She plans to pursue a career in either civil or biomedical engineering and would like to stay in West Virginia after college.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for high school students to explore what higher education can offer them – both inside the classroom and out. There is a significant emphasis on academics, but we want the participants to have time to also gel with others who share similar interests,” said Sara Hanks, M.P.H, community research associate, who leads the Biomedical Camp.
“It’s really special to see the students grow and form their own network through their high school years – and then to watch them transition to college life with goals of contributing to their communities – it’s inspiring,” said Charline Barnes Rowland, Ed.D., associate professor at the WVU College of Education and Human Services and director of the HSTA Summer Institute.
Ninety-nine percent of HSTA students go on to college, versus the state average of 57 percent. HSTA has graduated 2,207 students to date with many going into STEM careers such as medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry.
In addition to the camps held at WVU, Forensics and “Fun with Science” camps will be held at West Virginia State University, Glenville State University, and Marshall University as part of the HSTA Summer Institute.
Background:
HSTA is supported by a $1.3 million Science Education Partnership Award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The award was renewed for five years in 2012. The West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute (WVCTSI) also provides support to HSTA. In August 2012, the WVCTSI was awarded a $19.6 million IDeA Clinical and Translational grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences titled “West Virginia IDeA CTR” [Institutional Development Award for Clinical and Translational Research, 1U54RR033567-02; Hodder (Principal Investigator)] to support WVCTSI’s mission of building clinical and translational research infrastructure and capacity to impact health disparities in West Virginia.
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CONTACT: Sarah Hanks, Health Sciences Technology Academy, 304-294-1443
Stephanie Ballard Conrad, West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute, 304.581.1843