RMSC News:

Newsletter of the Regional Math/Science Center

Frostburg State University

Issue Date

WINTER 2018 IN THIS ISSUE

Summer 2018 Dates

Opening Day ALL Programs begin Sunday, June 17th

Beginning Researcher Program Program ends Friday, June 29th

Intermediate Researcher Program Program ends Thursday, July 5th

Advanced Researcher Program Summer break begins Thursday, July 5th Summer break ends Sunday, July 8th Program ends Friday, July 20th

Senior Week Program ends Thursday, July 26th

Upcoming Exams The RMSC can help juniors and seniors register for SAT and ACT exams using fee waivers. Please contact us before paying for these exams.

SAT Mar 10th Past Registration ACT Apr 14th Register by Mar 9th SAT May 5th Register by Apr 6th

SAT Jun 2nd Register by May 3rd ACT Jun 9th Register by May 4th

ACT July 14th Register by June 15th

College VisitsThis spring, the RMSC will offer two college visits. Contact us if you are interested in attending.

UMBC March 30th Morgan State April 28th

Remind TextingWe are ONLY using the texting service REMIND to communicate with students and parents via text. If you do not opt into this Remind service you will not receive texts. Students need parent permission to communicate with RMSC via Remind. Please contact us to join this service.

Summer Eligibility Summer invitations were sent by email and Remind texts according to the 2018 Eligibility Criteria. Invites required students to complete an on-line survey by March 1st to reserve a spot. New students will be added to the program, and spots may not be available if you missed the deadline.

Email Encryption The RMSC is using Virtru email encryption for sensitive emails. If you receive a Virtru encrypted email from RMSC, it is valid and secure. Once you unlock the message you can send us a secure response. You may also download Virtru for free to send encrypted emails. If you are sending anything with your name, address, and other sensitive data you should use encryption to keep your information secure. Sadly, identity theft is an increasing problem, so everyone needs to take extra steps to keep information secure.

Alumni Voices Learn what some RMSC alumni are doing in college this year Page 2-3

Thinking Forward Some pointers on managing your time and organizing your work for the spring semester Page 3

Honor Roll & STEM Majors Honor roll students and top 2017 STEM majors

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Alumni Voices

Trevon Brisbane joined the

RMSC as a rising 9th grader and graduated in 2017 from North Hagerstown High. This fall Trevon started college and we asked him to share a little about his first year experience.

What college do you attend and what is your current major and anticipated graduation date?

I attend Salisbury University. I am currently majoring in Biology, but I have taken interest in many other topics like Math and Political Science. I plan on graduating in June of 2021.

What has been the most challenging part of starting college?

The most challenging part of my first semester was trying to adjust to how different learning is in college. Instead of being taught all of your needed information, you have to study extra material that you may not learn in class. The number of responsibilities you have in college was also challenging.

Did you get involved in any extracurricular activities on campus this fall?

Yes, I joined the Salisbury men’s rugby club team. Although I was new to the sport, I fell in love with rugby. It is a great experience and it keeps you in top shape. I have bonded with the team like they are my family.

What experience(s) at RMSC did you find most helpful in preparing you for college?

RMSC helped me with being comfortable in a dorm with a new person. RMSC has also helped me in my math and science which I will need throughout all 4 years of college.

What advice do you have for our current RMSC students about preparing for college?

My advice for all upcoming college students is to STUDY. Studying is needed in college. It is an absolute MUST in order to be successful in college. Avoid procrastination because it can really have an effect on your grades. And last, stay POSITIVE!

Cheyenne Simmons joined

the RMSC as a rising 10th grader and graduated from Williamsport High in 2015. Cheyenne has started an internship at the National Aquarium in Baltimore.

What college do you attend and what is your current major and anticipated graduation date?

I attend Hood College where I am majoring in Biology and minoring in Psychology. My anticipated graduation date is May of 2019.

Can you tell us a little about your current internship at the National Aquarium in Baltimore City?

I am responsible for overseeing the reptiles and amphibians that are in quarantine for various reasons – medical issues, awaiting transportation, or simply animals that cannot be around others. I work closely with the animals in the care center to ensure they are healthy and are progressing towards being on display. Every day is different at the animal care center so I get to learn something new every day!

What experience(s) at RMSC did you find most helpful in preparing you for college?

The experience that I found to be most helpful was writing the research papers. Although the work is tedious and it is summer, knowing how to write and conduct research really helped me stand out in classes. Many students in my classes struggled when trying to write their papers, but prior experience allowed me to receive high grades and help other students.

What advice do you have for our current RMSC students about preparing for college?

I would say to not be afraid to ask the RMSC staff for help if you need it! I found myself emailing Ms. Rita every year since leaving RMSC about various things – scholarships, letters of recommendation, internships, and so much more. It is okay to need help, and just know the RMSC staff is always there for you no matter what you need.

I would also say to go on as many college visits as you can before committing to a school! I visited only three out of the five schools which offered me admission. Although I love my school, there is a chance I may have liked another school better than Hood.

What are you planning to do after completing your Bachelor’s Degree?

After completing my Bachelor’s Degree, I hope to attend graduate school at UMD to get my Master’s in Animal Science. While attending graduate school, I would like to work locally to gain experience in the science field before moving away.

“Only those who will risk going too far can

possibly find out how far it is possible to go”

T.S. Eliot

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Hannah Adeoye, a 2016

graduate of Governor Thomas Johnson High, joined the RMSC as a rising 10th grader. Hannah is attending an Ivy League school and shared a little about her experiences thus far.

What college do you attend and what is your current major and anticipated graduation date?

I currently attend Columbia University in New York City, and I am majoring in Economics and Biology while following the pre-med track. I will graduate in May of 2020.

Can you tell us a little about your lab experiences in college?

So far since coming to college, I have taken one or more lab courses a semester. Labs in college are a lot more interactive than labs in high school. I have had the chance to perform some complex animal dissections, cell culturing, and DNA modification experiments.

What experience(s) at RMSC did you find most helpful in preparing you for entering college?

RMSC taught me how to work efficiently under a deadline. I went into each summer knowing we only had six weeks to complete a project, write a research paper, and prepare a presentation. While this was quite a daunting task, it certainly was not an impossible one. Somehow every summer, my peers and I, who had no knowledge of our projects prior to arriving at RMSC, produced results that we felt proud of. This took time, energy, dedication, and most of all teamwork. RMSC taught me how to work in a team while remaining independently accountable. Each person had to write that research paper, so slacking off was never really an option. This has been essential to my college experience. Being able to maintain individual accountability while still being part of a team shows up in almost every class I take, from physics lab to intermediate microeconomics. This is a skill that is highly valued in our society and RMSC is a chance to cultivate that skill.

What advice do you have for our current RMSC students about preparing for college?

Develop and maintain essential organizational skills. College is 75% time management and the most successful people I know here are still able to get 8 hours of sleep a night. There are no awards given for the most all-nighters pulled. Make the most of the experiences that you are having right now, and take time to reflect on what you are gaining from being in a program such as

this one. It is a vital skill to be able to articulate what you have learned from your experiences in life because that is a huge part of what college admissions officers are looking for.

What are you planning to do after completing your Bachelor’s Degree?

I am in no hurry to jump right into medical school after college, so I will definitely be taking a gap year. During this time, I will likely work in the field of economics or gain some more research experience. I have been thinking about applying to some global gap year fellowships so that I can have the chance to travel a little bit before I dive back into school.

Thinking Forward

Here at RMSC we want you to excel academically and we are always here to help. As you embark on your second semester (half way done) we want you to be thinking about your academic habits and areas that may need improvement. Here are some tips to help you make changes this semester.

Time management

• Keep track of assignments, test dates, and events in a planner or cell phone calendar

• Make a ‘to do list’ and rank the items by priority. If it is DUE first, DO it first!

• Schedule a time to complete assignments and/or study then stick to that schedule

• Be realistic when setting deadlines in your schedule

• Eliminate distractions (phone, TV, social media, friends, etc.) while studying

• Reward yourself for completing the tasks on your ‘to do list’

Organization

Keep a separate notebook or folder for each class so you canlocate work and notes easily

Date and title notes so you can easily find the topics to study

Use a homework folder to hold your complete and incomplete assignments

Date assignments in your homework folder to keep track of when each assignment is due

If you feel you are struggling with time management and/or organization, reach out to RMSC staff who can work with you to personalize some skill improvement strategies.

Accepting Applications

The RMSC is accepting new student applications for students currently in the 8th, 9th, or 10th grade. From the RMSC website, interested students can download an application or request to have one sent via USPS. Complete applications should be mailed to the RMSC office. Application review will start mid-March. Please feel free to share this opportunity with individuals who may be interested in joining us this summer.

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Top 25 STEM Majors for 2017

Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers are relatively reliable ways to earn a living, especially with the rising demand of high-tech products and services worldwide. However, not all STEM disciplines are equal. The WorldWideLearn organization ranked 106 majors in various STEM fields by comparing four categories: educational availability, educational affordability, earning potential, and employment opportunity. Here is the list of what they found to be the top 25 majors of 2017:

1. Information Technology

2. Computer Information Systems Security

3. Computer Engineering

4. Network and Systems Administration

5. Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications

6. Information Science/Studies

7. Computer Programming

8. Civil Engineering

9. Computer Science

10. Petroleum Engineering

11. Computer Systems Analysis

12. Geographic Information Science and Cartography

13. Informatics

14. Computer Software Engineering

15. Management Science

16. Computer Programming, Specific Applications

17. Electrical and Electronics Engineering

18. Industrial Engineering

19. Geological/Geophysical Engineering

20. Biological/Biosystems Engineering

21. Mechanical Engineering

22. Mining and Mineral Engineering

23. Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering

24. Geology/Earth Science

25. Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical/Space Engineering

Have you started to explore majors or careers that interest you? You can explore more information about these majors at https://www.worldwidelearn.com/education-rankings/25-best-stem-majors-for-2017.html.

It is never too early to start exploring majors and finding colleges that offer majors of interest. Feel free to reach out to RMSC staff for help exploring careers/majors.

Contact Us

Regional Math/Science Center Frostburg State University 101 Braddock Road Frostburg, MD 21532 Phone: 1-800-646-6004 or 301-687-4295 Fax: 1-301-687-4207 Email: RMSC@frostburg.edu Website: www.frostburg.edu/clife/mscenter

Rita Hegeman, Director Angie Ferguson, Assistant Director Kayla Precourt, Educational Specialist

Rita Hegeman, DirectorAngie Ferguson, Assistant Director

Kayla Precourt, Educational Assistant

HONOR ROLL

Congratulations to the following RMSC Students who earned a GPA of a 3.0 or above for BOTH first and second marking periods. Each * indicates a marking period in which a student earned a 4.0.

Rachel Adeoye * Tyler Adkins

Karla Aleman Audrey Badjouen*

Celeste Barber* Emmanuella Boue

Gabrielle Bowie Joshua Brooks*

Zachary Brooks** Ann Burgee

Gissel Cuestas Makayla Dodson Michael Donkor

Jasmine Dotson** Nijah Fleet

Zani Gacutan* Hope Grant

Tyler Hempe Kassidy Jacobs*

Avion Lowery Josephine Lyner Mikerria Melvin

Jada Michelle Lenzy Mondo* Laura Ochieng

Jade Pack* Elizabeth Pena Cardenas

Damian Qualls Brittanie Stewart

Angel Stouter-Workman Julia Taylor

Michael Tyler* Aniya Wade

Ariyonna Watkins Axel Weingard** Iyanna Williams

Iyon Williams Olivia Williams Joshua Wulff