Academy of Excellence
students observe their bridge designs as they are tested for strength. The
groups' bridges are judged based on three "real-world" criteria: timeliness,
cost and load capacity.
Academy
of Excellence marks decade of summer fun, learning
A weeklong program now formally known as the
Holland Academy of Excellence, AOE familiarizes students and teachers with the
opportunities provided through the two colleges that constitute PKI.
Recognizing that many students with high math and/or science aptitude may not
consider careers in engineering or technology, PKI Executive Director Winnie
Callahan implemented AOE to expose these bright students to applications which
encourage consideration of these fields of study.
Each year, 40 of the brightest and most
promising high school sophomores are selected from nominations received from
high schools across Nebraska and western Iowa. A math or science teacher for
each student also attends. Together they explore many of the areas of study
offered at PKI, applying their skills to workshops covering robotics,
engineering and technology.
Classroom activities can include creating a
computer-animated world, solving biological problems with computers through
bioinformatics, or using GPS on a scavenger hunt. A bridge-building competition
using K'NEX pieces is a class favorite. The goal is to beat the clock, stick to
a budget and create a model that will withstand more pressure than competitor
bridges. The winning team's entry in 2008 held 91.6 pounds, an AOE record.
Since its inception in 1999, AOE has directly
been responsible for nearly 170 top students selecting to attend the University
of Nebraska's Peter Kiewit Institute rather than an out of state program.
Callahan says a large part of AOE success is
due to participation by outstanding and dedicated professors and staff. Roger
Sash, a professor of computer and electronics engineering, has been creating
and facilitating AOE activities since the beginning of the program. "I find it
so rewarding to share the outstanding resources we have available with high
school students and their teachers," Sash says.
Using the city of Omaha as an extended
classroom, participants are taken to area attractions for informative,
behind-the-scenes tours at locations such as Union Pacific Railroad corporate
headquarters, Lozier IMAX Theatre, Henry Doorly Zoo, Durham Museum and the
Strategic Air and Space Museum. Prior to tours, students and teachers hear from
an expert on the engineering or technology challenges involved in the design or
construction of such venues. One night during the week the destination is
Fun-Plex, allowing for an evening of fun and relaxation.
"The number of repeat teacher participation is
testimony to the strong worth of the program," Callahan says.
Marc Rexroad, a math teacher at Oakland-Craig
High School, is among the repeat participants. "This is my third year, and I'd
say about 50 percent of this I've never seen before, it's so new and changing,"
Rexroad says, referring to the 2008 agenda. "The fact that it can be a
life-changing week for both students and teachers is what I truly value about
AOE. PKI does a great job of changing to meet the new challenges found in
engineering."
Responses received each year from students who
attend the summer Academy program are equally complimentary. "This experience
opened me to a new world of possibilities and careers," writes Sarah Johnson of
Lutheran High Northeast near Norfolk. "I was able to interact with new
technology that I'd never heard of and would otherwise not have encountered.
Says Wyatt Suddarth of York High School: "It
was a great opportunity for me to explore my future career possibilities in the
fields of engineering and IT.
Kearney Catholic High School's Nathaniel
Watley says, "This camp you run every year helped me immensely on deciding what
I want to do after high school."
The entire week of AOE is offered free to all
participants; their only expense is transportation to and from PKI.
During their stay, they are chauffeured around
Omaha, provided room and board at Scott Residence Hall, and given an all-access
pass to PKI.
AOE marked a decade of excellence in 2008. The
workshop began with new participants, and a repeat teacher or two. At the end
of the week, students left with a new vision of career choices, teachers with
lesson plans to implement in their classrooms, and all with firsthand knowledge
of the state-of-the art educational programs at PKI. By sharing their
experiences, word spreads about this surprising opportunity in Omaha.
"AOE is a summer camp unlike any other
available," says Callahan. "It is unique in that it offers a learning
experience to both the students and their teachers. It's educational and
career-focused, yet fun."
From
speaking to sponsorship to supercomputer
During the 2005
Academy of Excellence, a special guest speaker would prove invaluable to
attendees — and to The Peter Kiewit Institute. Dick Holland, an accomplished
advertising executive and noted Omaha philanthropist, was invited to share his
struggles and successes in education and business.
Holland, accompanied
by his wife, Mary, stressed the importance of performing well academically to
reach one's dreams. It was a fitting speech to kick off the summer program.
The Hollands,
passionate supporters of educational opportunities, fell in love with and
became lead donors for the program, which was renamed the Holland Academy of
Excellence.
Mary passed away in
2006, but Dick has continued his generosity with PKI, leading donors with the
Institute's Holland Computing Center. The center houses Firefly, among the top
academic supercomputing centers in the United States.
