Press Release
Hopewell Academy Science Teacher Attends Prestigious Program at
Princeton
University
Cary, NC
August 31,
2006
Alyson Downing, a local science teacher at Hopewell Academy, was one of only twenty-five teachers in the
world selected to attend a special institute at Princeton University for learning how to implement
molecular biology in her own classroom. This joint program
was offered through a partnership between the Molecular Biology Department at
Princeton
University and the Howard
Hughes Medical Institute (www.hhmi.princeton.edu).
The summer institute designed for teachers is intended to give them the
hands-on experiences and tools to make an impact in their own schools and
classrooms. Teachers at the institute were able to extract
mystery DNA from soil samples, test foods to see if they were genetically
modified, and even solved a simulated crime using DNA fingerprinting and
forensic science. During the workshop, teachers spent as much
time in the laboratory or working on lab-related projects as Princeton undergraduates spend in a typical yearlong lab
course. A highlight of the institute was the opportunity to
interact with leading researchers at Princeton University. Each day
during lunchtime seminars, teachers were exposed to cutting edge research in the
field of molecular biology and interacted with Princeton Professors and a Nobel
Laureate. Professor Ted Cox, the director of the
program, stated, We hope that we can help our teachers
inspire some of their students not only in the field of science but to
understand that they can use their scientific knowledge to see the world of
opportunities that they have available to them.
Downing's teaching will be supported throughout the school year by
Princeton. Even though the
cost of equipment and experiments can be prohibitive for a school, the
experiments are supplied at no cost to the teachers or school.
Dr. Ann Sliski, the outreach director, is also available for assistance
during the school year to ensure that the teachers have all the tools they need
to inspire their students.
Downing also recently obtained a fully funded grant to develop a fuel
cell program at the high school level. The Students Fueling
the Future Grant will include student competitions in fuel cell model car
designs for race and hill climb challenges, web site design, science notebooks,
oral presentations, and design innovation challenges. The
grant includes teacher training, on-site training, and materials.
The First National High School Fuel Cell Championship Event will be held
in Raleigh, NC on December 8-9, 2006.
Downing is looking forward to a highly competitive team even though this
is Hopewells
first year. One of our new students has competed at the
Middle School level and he brings a great deal of expertise to our program,
said Downing.
Hopewell
Academy is a new school
using a small classroom setting for its students. Often very
bright students do not flourish in traditional schools.
Hopewell
follows each student closely with an academic mentor and an innovative approach
to education. Many gifted learners are bored in a regular
classroom and Hopewell provides an outlet for these students
to immerse themselves in the curriculum. By expanding on the
State of North Carolina Standard curriculum and
degree requirements, Hopewell provides each
student with a strong academic foundation on which to begin college, said
Cecilia Gabriel, head of Hopewell. Hopewell educates students
in Grades 4 to 12.
Hopewell Academy is located off Cary Parkway at
1001 Sheldon
Drive in Cary, North
Carolina. The location is ideal for students in
Cary and Apex as well as other parts of Wake,
Chatham and Durham counties. Hopewell began its second
year on August 24, 2006. Hopewell is actively enrolling for
this year and next year. Space remains in several grades for
this year. An Open House for prospective parents is scheduled
for Sunday, September 17, at 2 pm. Family tours are also
available by appointment. For applications or additional
information, call the Director of Admissions at 919-607-6339 or view their
website at http://www.hopewellacademy.org/
Media inquiries: Contact Anita Blomme at
919-673-9591