NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 14, 2009) – Twenty-six incoming MNPS freshmen have been selected to the School for Science and Math class of 2013, which is a collaborative project of Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Metro Nashville Public Schools. The incoming freshmen for the 2009-2010 school year are:
Sarah Lindley Cane Ridge Braxton Brakefield Hillsboro Nastassia Reed Hillsboro Melenka Reed Hillsboro Joshua Wagner Hillsboro Maximilian Carter Hillsboro Ann Manning Hillsboro Jonathan Davies Hillwood Zachary Anderson Hume Fogg Zoe Turner-Yovanovitch Hume Fogg Abhinav Goyal Hume Fogg Aditya Gudibanda Hume Fogg Havisha Munjal Hume Fogg Meera Patel Hume Fogg Jacob Seloff Hume Fogg Rachel Waters McGavock Gabriel Allensworth MLK Melissa Guo MLK Ranine Haidous MLK Samuel Klockenkemper MLK Kerry Sommers MLK Jenny Zheng MLK Jake Williams Overton Jana Abdelhadi Overton William Cox Overton Scherly Gomez Stratford Students were selected on the basis of test scores, grades, personal essays and teacher recommendations. The top candidates were interviewed before the final selections were made. These students will begin a four-year interdisciplinary, research-based program that utilizes hands-on learning and pairs students with Vanderbilt scientists and researchers. SSMV is a unique learning opportunity. It is designed for students eager for an advanced, challenging curriculum that will prepare them for 21st-century careers. “This is the School’s third year, and the science education these students have experienced has risen beyond even our already high expectations,” said Dr. Glenn McCombs, Director of the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt. “We are proud to partner with MNPS and offer these students an opportunity to study under an interdisciplinary team of scientist educators and among our nation’s leading researchers. Our students learn by asking questions in a culture that reflects the collaborative spirit of exploration and discovery. The tools they carry forward should prove useful in any MNPS course, college major or future profession.” The School’s curriculum integrates the practical content, connecting various sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics. Students are engaged in hands-on research projects that increase in depth over the course of the four year program. Students are also able to participate in national science competitions, release journal publications and apply their projects to community outreach programs. Freshmen will have an orientation meeting July 30, and all students will report to classes at the School Aug. 24. Students will attend classes on the Vanderbilt campus one day per week and will attend their regular schools the other four days of the week. This is the third year of operation for the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt. All 8th grade students are eligible to apply. This program is available only to students attending MNPS high schools. There is no additional cost associated with attending this school. The school is supported by grants and other sources outside the MNPS budget. For more information about the school, visit www.mnps.org or www.scienceoutreach.org/school. Metro Nashville Public Schools provide a range of educational opportunities to more than 74,000 students in Nashville and Davidson County. The governing body for MNPS is the Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County Board of Public Education, a nine-member group elected by residents of Metropolitan Nashville. For more information, please visit www.mnps.org. ###
