Ohio Governor Ted Strickland declared March 2010 as Ohio STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Education Month and to celebrate hosted a statewide STEM conference in Columbus on March 2. Regional STEM conferences were scheduled to occur all across the state to continue the Governor’s charge to recognize STEM. The final Regional STEM Conference in Ohio was hosted in Portsmouth at Shawnee State University on May 21, 2010. Serving Ohio’s southeast region, the conference enjoyed attendance from over 150 participants representing education, business, civic and philanthropic sectors and served as a first step in the southeast STEM Initiative Planning Grant. 

Co-hosted by Ohio Appalachian Center for Higher Education, South East Ohio Center for Excellence in Mathematics and Science, Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, and Shawnee State University with support from the State of Ohio, the Ohio STEM Learning Network and the National Governor’s Association, the conference was a unique opportunity for engaged and committed leaders from all sectors to gather in celebration of successful STEM efforts at work in the region and join in discussion to shape the vision of what a STEM Hub for southeastern Ohio will mean and how it can best equip our students with the 21^st century skills necessary for success in a global workplace. With the exciting work of the planning grant ahead, the conference was a launching point for discussion between leaders from diverse, but related sectors, and emphasized the need for collaboration throughout the region to best serve our students and the region’s economy.

The Southeast Ohio Regional STEM Conference is being held at Shawnee State University on Friday May 21, 2010.  Save the date.

The Dr. William E. and Norma Sprague Ohio University Scholarship has been added to the OACHE scholarship database. Scholarships are for full time students who are U.S. citizens, have maintained permanent residency in the Michigan counties of Kent, Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, or Ottawa or Athens County Ohio for a minimum of two years pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree at Ohio University. Applicants must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0.

The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio announces scholarship opportunites for students throughout the region pursuing post-secondary education.

The following scholarships are available: The Ora E. Andersaon Scholarship, The Bellisio Foods Scholarship, The Lester and Thelma Ellwood Educational Scholarship, The Zelma Gray Mecial School Scholarship, The Dr. Allen Smith Memorial Scholarship, the Ariana R. Ulloa Scholarship and the Wayne White and Bob Evans Scholarship.

Scholarship applications are now available and must be postmarked by March 31, 2010. To learn more and to download the applications go to The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio website.

The OACHE, Ohio University Institute of Democracy and Eastern Kentucky University have partnered to offer a professional development academy lead by practicing Appalachian educators.  The Academy will be held at Ohio University Southern campus in Ironton, Ohio.

The Appalachian Leadership Academy will provide professional development for educational leaders within the Appalachian region which acknowledges the unique challenges and strengths characterizing rural schools and communities. The academy will consist of two full day sessions  (February 27th and June 12th) with web based interaction between sessions.  Ohio University credit will be available at $88 per quarter hour credit (maximum of 4 credits).

Objectives:

To create and nurture a rural community of learners by providing professional development opportunities delivered by rural practitioners.

To introduce a leadership model that is culturally-responsive and explicitly attentive to the unique challenges and strengths which characterize rural Appalachian schools and communities (Johnson, Shope, & Roush, 2009).

To facilitate structured discussions regarding current issues which promote insight and immersion in the rural context through the use of tools such as data gathering and analysis, community asset mapping, and provide participants with resources via a membership in rural organizations (RSIN).

To utilize an Academy approach which engages participants as rural “fellows” via a sustainable, professional network of learners who promote rural leadership uniqueness in working to better Appalachian schools and communities.

We invite you to join us. Register on line at Appalachian Leadership Academy.

Questions?  Contact Brenda Haas 866-466-2243 or bhaas@oache.org

Lisa Patt-McDaniel, Director of the Ohio Department of Development, and Fred Deel, Director of the Governor’s Office of Appalachia, today announced summer programs to benefit middle school students, high school students and teachers in Appalachian Ohio.  Applications are available at www.arc.gov and should be submitted to the Ohio Governor’s Office of Appalachia.  Deadline to apply is February 26, 2010.

The 2010 Middle School Summer Science Camp will be held from July 18 – 23, 2010 at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Oak Ridge Associated Universities in Oak
Ridge, Tennessee. Students who wish to participate must be 12-14 years of age by July 18, 2010. tudents will be chaperoned and the program will cover all major expenses, including meals, lodging, and transportation.  Click here for the Middle School Opportunities press release and contact information.

The 2010 High School Summer Math-Science-Technology Institute will be held from July 10 – 23, 2010 at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Students who wish to participate must be 16 years of age by July 10, 2010. Students will be chaperoned and the program will cover all major expenses, including meals, lodging, and transportation.  Click here for the High School Opportunities press release.

The Southeast Ohio Center for Excellence in Mathematics and Science has approximately $100,000 in scholarships funds for prospective middle level and high school math and science teachers who seek an initial license.

College juniors, seniors and graduate students wishing to become mathematics or science teachers may be eligible to receive a Noyce scholarship for up to $17,000 per academic year for two years. These scholarships can be used at Ohio University, Shawnee State University, or the University of Rio Grande.

Noyce scholar recipients must be seeking an initial teaching license in science and or mathematics with plans to teach middle school or high school math or science in an Ohio Appalachia school district. Special consideration will be given to first generation college students who are residents of an Ohio Appalachian county.  Students seeking a teaching license in Physical Science are strongly encouraged to apply.

Scholarships applications for the 2010-2011 academic year are now being accepted.

Scholarship Application reviews will begin in April 2010. Recipients will be notified by mid-May 2010.

The Noyce Scholarship program is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and is administered by the South East Ohio Center for Excellence in Mathematics and Science (SEOCEMS).For an application form and additional information, please visit http://www.seocems.org and go to the Noyce link or contact Al Cote at cote@ohio.edu

USA Funds^® will award $1,500 scholarships to students with economic need through USA Funds Access to Education Scholarships^®. Applications will be accepted online beginning Dec. 15, 2009, through Feb. 15, 2010.

For more information go to: https://www.usafunds.org/planning/access_to_education_scholarship/index.html

Sponsored by The Athens Foundation and the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio in cooperation with Ohio Grantmakers Forum

This FREE event is December 10, registration & breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m., meeting is 8:00 a.m. to noon at the Ohio University Inn & Conference Center, 331 Richland Avenue, Athens, Ohio.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2009. Download the registration form here.

At this regional meeting we will discuss recent national and state activities to improve Ohio’s education system, including an update on the progress of OGF’s education initiative; an overview Ohio’s new education agenda and an analysis of where the "gaps" are; a panel discussion and town hall conversation about local education needs, programs and initiatives; and discussion with state education leaders concerning the federal stimulus and the state’s application for the competitive Race to the Top funds.

This regional conversation is one of a series of similar conversations being held by OGF and its members across the state. These regional meetings are part of OGF’s education initiative and build on the regional conversations that were co-sponsored by local foundations and OGF around education policy reform in 2007-2008.

Presenters include:

• Cara Dingus Brook, Foundation for Appalachian Ohio

• Larry Burgess, Ph.D., Ohio University, Educational Studies Department; Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools

• Brenda Haas, Ed.D., Ohio Appalachian Center for Higher Education (OACHE)

• Renee Middleton, Ph.D., Ohio University, College of Education

• Rick Studer, Battelle for Kids