The students — selected as WISE (Winthrop Initiative for STEM Education) interns
— worked with faculty mentors in May to conduct research and then became teachers
themselves in a local high school and middle school. Divided in three groups, the interns explored water-related research and conducted
a number of investigations. All are rising sophomores and juniors who are majoring in math, biology or chemistry.
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA — A three-week emphasis on water quality and its growing scarcity prompted 14 Winthrop students to think long range about this precious commodity.
The students — selected as WISE (Winthrop Initiative for STEM Education) interns — worked with faculty mentors in May to conduct research and then became
teachers themselves in a local high school and middle school. All are rising sophomores
and juniors who are majoring in math, biology or chemistry.
Divided in three groups, they explored water-related research and conducted a number
of investigations. The biology group tested the water quality at the Winthrop Lake,
Lake Wylie and at a local creek. The chemistry group took water samples along the
Catawba River and tested for metals, while the math group explored mathematical models
to test the efficiency and costs of water systems in a variety of urban areas.
As a group, the interns underwent certification training from Project Wet, visited the local water treatment plant, and heard from the Catawba Riverkeeper. These experiences, as well as focused professional development on teaching, diversity,
and time at Discovery Place and Discovery Place Education Studios, prepared the interns for classroom experiences at South Pointe High School in Rock Hill and South Middle School in Lancaster.
At a final presentation on May 26, each of the interns talked about their research
and their hands-on activities with students. Each intern concluded with how they will
use their experiences for future projects, such as creating a lesson plan for a day
without water, forming a Winthrop Water Club, and getting water samples in their home
county to help spread awareness.
The 2017 WISE Internship Class members are: Jessika Bonner, Alyssa Clark, Bailee Conner, Kelly Ann Cousins, Dakshdeep Dhillon,
Rachel Edlein, Olivia Greathouse, David (Nate) Knight, Marlin McKnight, Hannah Mitchum,
Angel Nesbitt, Juliana Quay, Kat Schneider and Hannah Tucker.
Participating Winthrop faculty members are: Cassandra Bell, Janice Chism, Kelly Costner, Victoria Frost, Nick Grossoehme,
Jessica Hamm, Linda Pickett and Jane Wilkes.
This sixth WISE summer internship program is funded with help from the Duke Energy Foundation and a Robert Noyce Scholarship grant. "The WISE Internship is an intense experience
for all involved, but we are fortunate as the WISE Interns represent some of the best
and brightest students at Winthrop. Their enthusiasm for STEM topics, interest in
applying what they learn, and willingness to explore is refreshing," said Beth Costner, WISE coordinator and associate dean in the Richard W. Riley College of Education. "Focusing on water across the three weeks opens their eyes to issues and topics
from a variety of perspectives."
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at longshawj@winthrop.edu or 803/323-2404.
