With mentor support from Union students, faculty and staff, three teams of Schenectady students participated in the 11th annual Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) science competition in Albany last weekend.
One Union team took home a second place award for a project that compared the effectiveness of leading mouthwashes, while another garnered third place for its study of germs in public places.
More than 40 higher education institutions took part in the statewide poster competition at the Albany Marriott. The more than 65 science projects accepted were judged on abstracts, oral presentations, research methods, knowledge of subject matter, lab reports, handouts and poster displays.
Sponsored by the state Department of Education in partnership with Union, STEP prepares historically underrepresented or economically disadvantaged secondary students for entry into college, with a focus on science, technology, math and licensed-professional fields.
One of 10 community outreach programs operated out of the Kenney Community Center, STEP hosts Saturday workshops and a summer program.
“Three mentors, Andrew Camden ’09, Chris Vargas ’10 and Rayanna Johnson ’11, and STEP Coordinator Don Austin have been coaching and preparing our STEP participants for the past several weeks,” said Kenney Director Angela Blair Tatem.
"Most students don't have an opportunity to experience an event like this until they reach the collegiate level," Tatem noted. "We're very proud of all of our participants. This conference encouraged them to pursue the program with a renewed passion."
As part of last weekend’s event, students attended a science bowl and talks by education leaders. Workshops relating to financial aid, the college application process and internships also were offered.
The Union STEP program submitted three abstracts, all accepted. Carol Weisse, director of the Health Professions Program, assisted a team that won third place in the Biological/Life Sciences Division for high schools.
Geology Professor Kurt Hollocher, Biology Associate Professor Barbara Danowski and Life Science Specialist Peg Angie helped the team that took second place in the Biological/Life Sciences middle school division.A third abstract that compared tap and bottled water received support from Assistant Professor of Chemistry Laura MacManus-Spencer.