A Promise of Good Works

And this shall be a sign to you,

You shall eat this year such as grows of itself;

and the second year that which springs of the same:

and in the third year

sow you, and reap, and plant vineyards,

and eat the fruit thereof.

(Isaiah 37:30)

 I do not know what is about being in Arkansas that makes me write as if my life experiences were a metaphor for agriculture: sowing, reaping, planting, harvesting… I digress. Ever felt like you were in a wilderness, a place where nothing seems to grow? Sometimes, you simply have to weather the seasons, do the work, and continue to plant and sow until the harvest. Succeeding at anything in life, like farming, is a process that is not for the faint.  However, you keep toiling, looking for the sign of the fulfillment of the prophecy, or the promise…

Are you familiar with the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp? The camp provides 48 rising 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students the opportunity to enhance their proficiency in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education while living on a college campus - all at no cost to the child or family. I became aware of this program sponsored by The Harris Foundation when we lived in Beaumont and knew some of the beneficiary attendees from the Lamar University camp. Well, the twenty sites for the 2015 camp season have been announced. I am glad to see that the University of Arkansas – Little Rock is one of the named camp locations. (NOTE:  I am still researching to see which school districts are recruiting students for the competitive 48 spots.)




Summer 2015 Summer Science Camp Sites

To be eligible to apply, students should:

• Be members of a traditionally underserved and underrepresented population;
• Be entering 6th, 7th or 8th grade in the fall of 2015;
• Have a GPA of at least “B” overall in mathematics and science;
• Score at the median to superior level on standardized mathematics and science tests;
• Write a 250-word essay describing their interest in the camp and STEM;
• Be interviewed, if deemed necessary;
• Have exhibited an interest in mathematics and science; and
• Have strong recommendations from their current mathematics and science teachers.

To learn more, visit http://theharrisfoundation.org/sitecontent/565/summer-science-camp/category/457/education.aspx

 
The science camp opportunity reminds me of my first exposure to opportunities in STEM related fields. I did not attend my first on-campus camp until the summer between my junior and senior year of high school, but I remember how the experience motivated me to toil harder. Imagine the promise that lies ahead for the students who are exposed and graced to attend these camps in the 6th, 7^th, or 8^th grades! Imagine the promise of how this type of engagement could change the trajectory of children who live in the wilderness of those underserved, underrepresented communities and populations!  If not this camp, how can we advocate to get more of our young people exposed and engaged in other STEM focused camps? What are you doing in your local community in teaching children that it is never too early to begin toiling and working toward the promise of good works? Feel free to comment, or, send me an email at latanyua.robinson@gmail.com. If you like this post and want to catch up on some of my previous discussions, please visit the full Purposed Work blog at http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/