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Using Homemade sextants, three teens in the Discovery Approach to Science EnHancement (DASH) program track one of the rockets.Fifteen-year-old Chere Wyatt wants to be an actress, and she made a debut of sorts Thursday in the role of a rocket scientist. She was among 30 teens competing in the 4th annual rocket glider competition held at the Illinois Institute of Technology. As the final phase of IIT's Discovery Approach to Science Enhancement program (DASH), the students designed, constructed and launched miniature rockets, each hoping their creations would reach the predetermined height of 60 meters(195 feet). "Science is my favorite subject, and when I heard about the program, I figured that I might as well try it, " she said. Her partner in the competition, Frank Clark, 15, an aspiring docor, agreed that the program was a great way to spend the summer. "In the summer, I like to do things to keep myself busy," he said. And busy the students have been. Since July 5, their typical weekday began with a 9 am lecture, followed by hands-on work from 10:30 to noon. After a one hour lunch break, the students would conduct informational searches on rocket science on the World Wide Web. They also were required to complete homework based on their daily study of trigonometry, physics and computer science. Even though Wyatt's and Clark's rocket only reached 39.5 meters, Wyatt said, "I feel like I'm gaining things and this has been a good learning experience. This will help us when we begin to take physics next year." Wyatt will be a sophomore at Morgan Park High School and Clark will be a sophomore at Luther South High School. John Kallend, dean of undergraduate studies at IIT, has spent the last two weeks with the students, preparing them for the lift-off finale. He said students benefit from the program in different ways "There's something for everybody," Kallend said. "It's an experience that teaches them to do things right, because if they don't, |
they'll see the project won't work out in the end." Kallend said he also gets something out of the program. "I have a lot of fun. It's a break from spending my day in meetngs and writing memos," said Kallend who also is a professor of engineering science. Jim Karagiannes, an IIT physics professor and assistant undergraduate dean, taught students during the first half of the program. "We only cover topics in an applicable sense." he said. "We don't get super in-depth. We simply talk about what it [physics] means in everyday life." Explaining how math and science works in the making of cars, buildings and rides at amusement parks such as Great America made things more interesting and easier to understand, said Karagiannes, who chaperoned a trip to the park last month. Morgan Park students Aisha Martin and Cydni Mack, who teamed up on a rocket they named Jenni, said the program also helped them establish a friendship. "We go to the same school, but we never knew each other. Now we're best friends," said Martin, 15. They agreed that the hard work involved in the program had its rewards. "I realize that there are many things out there for me to try because of this program," said Mack, 14. "There are a lot of things I can learn." 
Joe Kelly, a student at Marist High School, prepares his rocket for launching Thursday at the Illinois Institute of Technology. |
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