UF College of Journalism and Communications

Professional Outreach Day

By: TAYLOR SILVER

With balloons, face painting, ice cream, and a group of elementary school children, it may sound like a party, but it is anything but. On June 24, 2009, the University of Florida hosted its first annual Professional Outreach Day, which resulted from a collaboration between the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Young Achievers Foundation.

The goal of the event is to teach and motivate low-performing third, fourth, and fifth graders in several areas to include medicine, physics, engineering, chemistry, and animal science. These subjects may seem too complex for elementary schoolers, but hands-on activities taught the students in a visual and creative manner. For example, a metal ball rolling down a ramp was used to help explain kinetic energy.

The event was held in Pugh Hall and each activity was taught by an undergraduate volunteer. The founder of the Youth Achievers Foundation, Bryant Adibe, asked the crowd of children, from both Rawlings and Lake Forest Elementary Schools, what they want to be when they grow up. Some answers included an astronaut, a lawyer, a scientist, and an “amazing third grade teacher.”

Adibe also recounted an experience when he was in third grade and met with his principal to address an issue about his class’s lunch schedule. The message Adibe was trying to convey was that, although he was yelled at by his principal, kids should “have the courage to believe in [themselves].” Then, Adibe asked the students a few questions pertaining to chemistry and medicine. The students stared wide-eyed when they were asked what an anesthesiologist was.

“Can somebody name an element? There’s one in your balloons,” Adibe asked. Several answers given were “air!” but one quiet boy was a bit more specific when he answered helium and was awarded a candy.

Kelley Kostomo, an Alachua County Public Schools partnership specialist, said the goal of the event was to “open [the students’] eyes to the possibilities of other careers.” Kostomo also said that the children’s opportunities “could be limited if they don’t concentrate on school.”

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 25th, 2009 at 9:24 am and is filed under Writing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.