thedrifter
03-10-06, 09:01 AM
Marines judge students at science fair
MCB Quantico
Story by: Sgt. LaToya Graddy
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va.(March 9, 2006) -- Quantico leathernecks converged on Beville Middle School in Woodbridge Feb. 28, volunteering to judge the school’s science fair.
Lance Cpl. Sha`ahn Williams, Quantico’s Adopt-A-School program manager, and three Marine officers spent the afternoon putting their knowledge to use, evaluating eager middle school students’ projects.
“(The science fair) gave me an opportunity to take a personal interest and to give back to the community,” said Capt. Michael Margolis, who has a degree in physics and is assigned to Marine Corps Combat Development Command. “The students went above and beyond the 7th-grade level with some of the projects.”
Margolis said it was very encouraging to see that level of creativity, and it is good to see the future leaders take the fair seriously.
The Marines’ efforts aided with selecting first-, second-, and third-place finishers in each designated category. The first-place winners in each category were selected to represent the middle school at a regional science fair.
Jason Maneno, the school’s Science Department chairman, told the Marines and other judges that if some projects were not good enough to represent the school, then they did not have to award a first-place, but could award an honorable mention.
“It is good having Marines and a (professional) engineer to help out with this project,” Maneno said. “(The judges were) able to provide good feedback to the kids.”
Most of the students’ projects were well thought out and were very impressive, Williams said.
MCCDC’s Capt. Paul Schneider, who has a science background, said, “The kids had pretty good imaginations. A lot of them were trying to solve very practical problems.
“One kid was trying to protect his stomach,” Schneider recalled.. That child told us about his mother using their wireless computer in the kitchen to follow a recipe … and then the computer lost power, (and his mother) had to finish the recipe from her memory.”
After having dinner, the student decided to work on his project on wireless connections at various places in his home, Schneider added.
This event was just one of many ways that Quantico Marines and sailors support local schools through the Adopt-A-School program, Williams said. In addition to Beville Middle School, Quantico supports several elementary and middle schools in the local area.
“Marines can offer their time by mentoring and tutoring students, reading to younger children, and helping the schools with school-sponsored programs,” Williams said.
For more information on the Community Relations Branch’s Adopt-A-School and volunteer programs, contact Williams at 784-2741.
Ellie
MCB Quantico
Story by: Sgt. LaToya Graddy
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va.(March 9, 2006) -- Quantico leathernecks converged on Beville Middle School in Woodbridge Feb. 28, volunteering to judge the school’s science fair.
Lance Cpl. Sha`ahn Williams, Quantico’s Adopt-A-School program manager, and three Marine officers spent the afternoon putting their knowledge to use, evaluating eager middle school students’ projects.
“(The science fair) gave me an opportunity to take a personal interest and to give back to the community,” said Capt. Michael Margolis, who has a degree in physics and is assigned to Marine Corps Combat Development Command. “The students went above and beyond the 7th-grade level with some of the projects.”
Margolis said it was very encouraging to see that level of creativity, and it is good to see the future leaders take the fair seriously.
The Marines’ efforts aided with selecting first-, second-, and third-place finishers in each designated category. The first-place winners in each category were selected to represent the middle school at a regional science fair.
Jason Maneno, the school’s Science Department chairman, told the Marines and other judges that if some projects were not good enough to represent the school, then they did not have to award a first-place, but could award an honorable mention.
“It is good having Marines and a (professional) engineer to help out with this project,” Maneno said. “(The judges were) able to provide good feedback to the kids.”
Most of the students’ projects were well thought out and were very impressive, Williams said.
MCCDC’s Capt. Paul Schneider, who has a science background, said, “The kids had pretty good imaginations. A lot of them were trying to solve very practical problems.
“One kid was trying to protect his stomach,” Schneider recalled.. That child told us about his mother using their wireless computer in the kitchen to follow a recipe … and then the computer lost power, (and his mother) had to finish the recipe from her memory.”
After having dinner, the student decided to work on his project on wireless connections at various places in his home, Schneider added.
This event was just one of many ways that Quantico Marines and sailors support local schools through the Adopt-A-School program, Williams said. In addition to Beville Middle School, Quantico supports several elementary and middle schools in the local area.
“Marines can offer their time by mentoring and tutoring students, reading to younger children, and helping the schools with school-sponsored programs,” Williams said.
For more information on the Community Relations Branch’s Adopt-A-School and volunteer programs, contact Williams at 784-2741.
Ellie