Harding University wins two Awards. One award for Math and Science Education awarded STEM grant and the economics team wins regional competition
Harding University Center for Math and Science Education awarded STEM grant
The Center for Math and Science Education, part of the Cannon-Clary College of Education at Harding University, was awarded a grant in February by the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority. The proposal, “Sparking a Child’s Interest Using Data Collection Technology,” was written by math specialist Tim Brister and science specialist Amy Adair.
The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Professional Development grant of $12,000 was awarded for a one-year period beginning Jan. 21, 2011, and was given in conjunction with the National Science Foundation and the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation.
The purpose of the grant is to provide professional development on the use of data collection technology to K-5 teachers of mathematics and science. Each participating teacher will receive data collection equipment to use in their classroom. Ron Smith, assistant professor of mathematics, and Keith Schramm, associate professor of physical science, from Harding University will also be participating in the project. Area K-5 teachers who are interested in participating in the project may contact the Harding University Center for Math and Science Education at cmse@harding.edu.
Harding University economics team wins regional competition
The Harding University Students in Free Enterprise economics team competed and was named Regional Champion at the Midsouth Students in Free Enterprise Regional Competition in Rogers, Ark., March 11.
Team members include senior Daniel Avelar of Cortes, Honduras; senior Carmen Cuadra of Masaya, Nicaragua; sophomore Rafael Guillen of Choluteca, Honduras; junior Michael Lanier of Old Hickory, Tenn.; senior Lucy Marchena of San Jose, Costa Rica; sophomore Fabian Quiros of Heredia, Costa Rica; junior Karla Rodriguez of Volcan, Panama; and senior Tim Tostige of Fraser, Mich. Cuadra serves as president of Harding’s SIFE chapter along with senior Josh Alexander of Grand Blanc, Mich.
The group’s presentation was a description of the execution and results of 11 educational and service projects they did during the school year. Their projects were designed to educate on the benefits of living in a free enterprise system and inspire contribution towards a world with less poverty and more freedom. Judges for the competition were executives from businesses that serve as SIFE sponsors.
In winning the Regional Competition, the Harding SIFE team won $1,000 in prize money and gained the opportunity to compete in the SIFE USA National Exposition May 10-12 in Minneapolis, Minn. National winners will represent the U.S. in the International Championship in October in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“They become better teammates, develop their communication skills, find out that they can use their creativity to devise effective projects, become better time managers, and they get many opportunities to interact with various community members and especially with business people,” said SIFE faculty sponsor and associate professor of business Dr. Rich Brown.
Dr. Jim Shelton, professor of accounting, is also a faculty sponsor for the team.
