Radford University welcomed young scholars to Virginia STEAM Academy

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President Kyle greets STEAM Academy attendees

Radford University President Penelope W. Kyle welcomed more than 150 parents and students to the opening session of the Virginia Science Technology Engineering and Applied Mathematics (STEAM) Academy on July 20, in the Hurlburt Student Center Auditorium.

This is the first year RU has hosted the STEAM program.

"We are honored to host you young scholars," Kyle told the 56-member class that spent the week studying mathematical modeling and forensic science. "You have chosen to match your excellent abilities and talents with distinguished faculty who work with students older than you. They will help you make a valuable investment in yourselves."

To the parents, Kyle said, "These students are rising stars now. Soon they will be the leaders of the future."

The STEAM Academy is a weeklong residential learning experience whose slogan is "Where intellect and innovation converge." The RU session was the second summer STEAM Academy session of the year in Virginia where more than 170 middle-school age students from across the state were immersed in the study of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines.

Representing RU on the STEAM Academy faculty was Donna Boyd, eminent professor of anthropological sciences and co-director of the Radford University Forensic Science Institute, and Cassady Urista, chair of the department of anthropological sciences. They taught the track titled "Forensic Anthropology, Bioarcheology and Forensic Science." The mathematical modeling track was taught by Linnea Haase, a mathematics teacher from Granby High School, and Olimpia Stein, a technology teacher from Surry County High School.

Outside the classroom, the STEAM Academy students visited the RU Planetarium and Museum of Earth Sciences and had nightly presentations on leadership, chemistry, agricultural science and veterinary science by speakers from Radford University, Virginia Tech and Alliant Technical Systems.

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Participants in the Virginia STEAM Academy

Jul 23, 2014