School News
Summer math, science institute at A&M-C attracts high school students
By Mary Lou Hazal, A&M-Commerce News
Jul 10, 2008

COMMERCE, Texas -- Twenty-five North and Northeast Texas high school students have been selected out of 65 who applied for the Infinity Institute at Texas A&M University-Commerce this month.

The students are participating in an intensive math, science, and technology summer camp sponsored by Project STEEM.

In its second year, the Infinity Institute is taught by A&M-Commerce math and science faculty members with assistance from university students.

The purpose of the camp is to offer students from "rural and economically disadvantaged areas an opportunity to experience math and science in ways that their districts cannot provide, so that they can see for themselves if math and science are the right choices for them," said Dr. Rick Kreminski, math department head and Infinity Institute professional leader.

"We hope ultimately to produce kids with Ph.D.s in math and science a few years from now who will have good careers and be leaders in these fields," he said.

In Texas and the nation, there is a need for persons skilled in math, science, and technology to enter technological fields.

The main instructional focus of the camp is mathematics and biology, with some chemistry and physics.

"The interaction between math, biology, and computer science is a 'hot' area, especially since so many genomes have been sequenced recently," Kreminski said.

The genome of an organism is the hereditary information that is encoded in the DNA, or for some viruses, RNA.

During the camp, which began June 8 and ran through July 3, students live in residence halls, attend classes, eat in the cafeteria, workout at the Morris Recreation Center, and go on day-long field trips.

Funded by a grant from the Greater Texas Foundation, the camp is in its second year and this summer four students, who attended the camp last year, have returned to help as interns, said Dr. Kerri O'Connor, director.

Cliff Morrison, a Hughes Springs High School junior, wants to be a biochemistry major in college.

"I think the camp will help me to be more on track for where I want to be in college," he said.

"I love chemistry and biology," said Morrison who plans a career in researching drugs and diseases.

Cooper High School senior Tracey Dove said she is attending the camp to help her improve her SAT and ACT scores for college. She plans to major in English and Spanish.

Students attending the Infinity Institute are Kathryn Allen, Ennis High School junior; Chance Ballard, Chisum sophomore; Rance Ballard, Chisum sophomore; Kim Baxter, Celina junior; Jesse Bush, Prairiland junior; Priscilla Collard, Boles junior; Franchely Cornejo, Ennis junior.

Other students are Kaeruru "LuLu" DeBoer, Cooper junior; Joshua Hewitt, Celina sophomore; Dalton Holley, Maud junior; Haley Howard, Lone Oak junior; Jessica Jessee, Rivercrest junior; Armando Lowen, Chisum junior; and Kelcey Ried, DeKalb freshman.

Also Cory Shinn, Bland sophomore; Benjamin Sisson, New Boston sophomore; Daniel Tanoos, Lone Oak freshman; Thomas Tarrant, Lone Oak junior; Jacob Taylor, Caddo Mills junior; Mesa Thomas, Celina junior; Rodrigo Torre, Bland freshman; Dakota Vaughn, Hughes Springs junior; Megan Wells, Campbell junior; Tracey Dove, Cooper junior; and Cliff Morrison, Hughes Springs sophomore.

A&M-Commerce faculty teaching and assisting in the Infinity Institute are Dr. Ken Alford, head and associate professor in the Health and Human Performance Department; Dr. Lance Whaley, assistant professor, chemistry department; and Dr. Haydn "Chip" Fox, assistant professor, biological and environmental sciences.

Also Dr. Jeff Kopachena, head and professor, biological and environmental sciences; Dr. Frank Miskevich, assistant professor, biological and environmental sciences; Dr. Kent Montgomery, planetarium director; Dr. Charles Rogers, professor, physics; and Dr. John P. Slovak, assistant professor, health and physical education. 

SULPHUR RIVER SCIENCE -- Cliff Morrison, left, and Dakota Vaughn, both of Hughes Springs, work on a science project on the North Sulphur River. Morrison and Vaughn are among 25 area high school students participating in the Infinity Institute at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Morrison is clipping the fin on a fish for the fish population count lab at the river. (A&M-Commerce photo/Paul Bryan)