Table Of Contents:

Letter From Director

The Science Bound Experience
Fall Photos
Honors Recognition 2014-2015
Student Experience

2
3
4-5
6
7

Volume 15 | Issue 2 | Fall 2015 / Winter 2016

Families fill DuPont

Pioneers Carver Center
during the fall kick-off.

SCIENCE BOUND | FALL 2015 / WINTER 2016 1

Letter from the

Director
Good things take time to develop. Likewise, the development of a future
STEM professional starts well before the first college course. With a
healthy dose of challenge balanced by a strong network of support
from caring parents, faculty, educational professionals and peers, these
students can grow into extremely competent and well-rounded scientists,
engineers, doctors, teachers and researchers. It is a worthwhile endeavor
and this is the work of Science Bound at Iowa State University.
It has been my pleasure to serve as the acting director of the Science
Bound program and to have the opportunity to work with these bright
stars the students. As Dr. Hargrave prepares to return as director in
March, I am confident that the good work that started nearly 25 years
ago will continue to grow yet stronger and stronger.
In this issue youll read about Science Bounds developing STEM
professionals and how they are preparing for success. You will read about
the first year seminar, a required course where our students are finding
out how to navigate through college, think critically, and learn deeply in
their courses. On page 6 we feature students who were honored at our
fall kick-off for high participation in Science Bound activities and grade
point average. And on page 7, youll read about a Science Bound student
now attending Iowa State, who, with a strong support network, has
followed through with every opportunity presented to her and is now on
the verge of advancing to the next level in her journey: graduation from
college and starting medical school. What an inspiration! I hope you will
enjoy this great example of what it takes to become a STEM professional.
My best wishes to all of you,

Dr. Denice Ross Haynes

I O WA S TAT E

Science Bound

invites you to celebrate their

25th Anniversary
watch for more details soon!

SCIENCE BOUND | FALL 2015 / WINTER 2016

THE

Science Bound
Experience

Each year, a new group of Science

Bound graduates come to Iowa State
University to complete the next phase
of their education. Iowa State fulfills
its promise to those students by
providing a full tuition scholarship
for 4 years if those students pursue
a degree in an approved science,
technology,
engineering and
mathematics (STEM)
major. For the last
seven years, Science
Bound has offered
a first-year seminar
course for these
students that is
designed to help them
successfully make the
transition from high
school to college.

The primary objective in

structuring the class this way
is to help the students be more
confident in the classroom, said
Dr. Haynes. By teaching them
what it means to think in the
language of the STEM discipline
they are pursuing, and the
importance of
understanding the
key concepts, they
can be successful
academically.

Critical thinking

Apple Amos, East High graduate

has allowed me

to learn different

Students have
responded positively
to the critical thinking
component. Industrial
technology student
Jasmine Scott
(Marshalltown) said
that learning about critical thinking
helped her gain knowledge of how she
learns within a classroom. Critical
thinking has allowed me to learn
different tactics that I can use in my
core classes, Scott said.

tactics that I can use

in my core classes,

The basic format of the course

is consistent with most first year
orientation courses; it provides a
space to foster community, connects
them to the campus as a whole,
facilitates critical reflection and
personal development and teaches
techniques and strategies for
classroom success.
During her tenure as acting director
of Science Bound, Dr. Denice Ross
Haynes, together with student
program coordinators Esperanza
Pintor Martinez and Adam Wade,
implemented a new seminar model that
builds the critical thinking and inquiry
skills of students for science learning.

According to Dr. Haynes, some of

the students were fascinated by the
information that they learned in
the seminar. For instance, Austin
Castillo-Leovan (East), a sophomore
in geology, said he was pleased to
realize that he could use critical
thinking in his daily life. CastilloLeovan added, I enjoyed it. I wish it
was a curriculum that was shown to
us in our first year in high school and
throughout high school. I have gained

a different perspective. CastilloLeovan added he now questions

everything.
Kennady Lilly (East), a sophomore
in biology, said she had the chance to
practice and expand on her abilities
as a critical thinker. Ive picked up
a lot of tips that I believe are helping
me become a better student, like
asking clarifying questions, relating
what I learn to the real world. Im
really noticing a difference in the
way I read articles and analyze
authors meanings and I believe I am
improving as a student, said Lilly.
It takes a little while for the
importance of these concepts to
sink in, but I think they appreciate
that it is something relevant to their
coursework that can help them to
be successful in the classroom, Dr.
Haynes said. It has been a journey of
hard work and discovery for all of us.

SCIENCE BOUND | FALL 2015 / WINTER 2016 3

Fall Photos

Nothing Less Than Succes

Des Moines Program Kick-off
Science Bound begins the year in each district with an 8th grade and high
school program Kick-Off. Students, families and teachers were hosted by
Science Bound staff again this year at DuPont Pioneers George Washington
Carver Center in Johnston. Nearly 500 were on hand for the September event.
Students with grade point averages above 3.75 and 100 percent participation
were recognized at the evenings event as well. (See page 6)
Schools of the year were also honored, with Callanan Middle School and
Hoover High School receiving the top awards.

Jayden Walker from Roosevelt High

School, Yashaira Padilla from Hoover
High School, Rosemary Galdamez from
North High School, were recognized during
the 2014-2015 academic year for both
high grade point average and 100 percent
participation. See page 6.

Students and families meet with their

Science Bound teachers as part of the fall
program kick-off.

An entire section of the Carver Center is

needed for the sea of students recognized
for grade point averages above 3.75 or 100
percent participation during the 2014-2015
academic year (see page 6).
4

SCIENCE BOUND | FALL 2015 / WINTER 2016

ess
Saturday Visits
Three times each academic year, Science
Bound invites more than 400 Science
Bound students and teachers to visit
Iowa State where ISU faculty, staff and
graduate students host experiential
STEM activities in labs and research
facilities across ISUs campus.

Dr. Joan Cunnick (animal science) leads students through a DNA extraction experience
to solve a murder.

Students learn about dimensions during this Lego Build

activity as first-year student Aurora Huerta guides them.

Students pose for a picture in the Molecular Biology atrium after their
genetics experience with Dr. Marna Nelson and Rick Lauter.

Students learned to use pipettes in Dr. Shannon Colemans

food science lab.

SCIENCE BOUND | FALL 2015 / WINTER 2016 5

2014-2015

Honors
Recognition
These students were recognized at
the fall kick-off in August for a grade
point average of 3.75 or above and/or
100 percent participation.
High Grade Point Average
and 100% Participation

Rosemary Galdamez, North, 3.79

Yashaira Padilla, Hoover, 3.79
Jayden Walker, Roosevelt, 3.79

High Grade Point Average

or 100% Participation
EAST HIGH SCHOOL

Rogelio Apolonio, 4
Francisco Chavez, 4.12*
Joaquin Chavez, 3.84
Tiffany Contreras, 3.82
Nia Johnson, 4.85*
Joey Rangel, 3.86
Tera Richardson, 3.95
Denisse San Elias, 3.82

NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

Mercedes Castillo, 4.12

Justyne Crawford, 3.8
Danielle Espinosa-Gonzalez, 4
Ana Gama, 4.25
Mayte Gomez-Cruz, 4.33
Karen Granados Nava, 4.32
Fahmo Mohamed, 3.84
Hebelin Sanchez-Mercado, 4.33
Alejandra Villanueva, 4.25
Meshach Zarwie, 3.82
Princess Zoaryan, 4.22

HOOVER HIGH SCHOOL

Tylen Chestnut, 3.9

Shandra Gillson, 4
Brianna Hale, 3.99
DeJaunia Harrison, 3.93
Daniel Miron Ocampo, 4.13
Elizabeth Mora-Huber, 3.75
Xavier Robles, 3.93
LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL

Yesica Correa, 100

Maria Cruz, 3.9
Lezly Marquez, 100%
Nicholas Ochoa, 3.83
Cecelia Rodriguez, 3.76
Giovanni Tenikat, 4.11
Brenda Vega-Gutierrez, 3.89

SCIENCE BOUND | FALL 2015 / WINTER 2016

ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL

Nawadir Ali, 4.2

Shaeloren Deering, 4.19
Jazzaray James, 4.8
Joseph Murdock, 4.44
Tumaini Mwangangi, 3.88
Lauren Provost, 3.94
Alam Ramirez, 4.07
Anitra Simmons, 100%
Carissa Villanueva, 4.43*
Tyanna Whitaker, 3.83
Genesha Williams, 4.0
*Highest GPA in Science Bound class

Student
Experience
My family loves Science Bound.
They speak highly of the program
and encourage other parents to take
advantage of what Science Bound has
to offer, said Grace Ansah, Science
Bound graduate (Lincoln High School)
and junior at Iowa State University.
Ansah started Science Bound when
she was invited as an 8th grader
at Merrill Middle School. Ansahs
mother, Cynthia Blepo, knew that
her daughter had a strong interest
in science and mathematics so she
encouraged her to take advantage of
the opportunity that she could have
in Science Bound.
Once in 8th grade Ansah started
attending Science Bound meetings,
events, and summer programs.
Now a junior majoring in biology
and pre-medicine at Iowa State, this
year Ansahs plan is to do well in
her courses and manage the many
extracurricular activities in which she
participates. Ansah is the president
of African Student Association,
ambassador for the College of Liberal
Arts and Sciences, peer mentor for
Sky is the Limit, research assistant
for the School of Education, and a
member of Quality Health Africa.

program that started it all.

I enjoy going back to high schools
and talking to the students. I also love
to have the students visit Iowa State
so that I can connect with them and
give them useful advice that I wish
I would have had as a high school
student, Ansah said.
Science Bound also continues to
play an important role in Ansahs
academic life.
Science Bound helps me achieve
more and have higher expectations of
myself as a student. Without Science
Bound, and my parents, of course, my
attitude towards my academics and
my hard work wouldnt be as great as
it is today, Ansah said.
Ansahs mother says it has been a
blessing for her daughter to take
advantage of what Science Bound has
to offer.
Always, always there to help you
make your dreams come true. Thats
what I like about Science Bound,
Blepo said.

Ansah with Iowa African Hall

of Fame Scholarship certificate
received in Fall of 2015. The
award included $1,000.

Blepo thinks that Science Bound is a

wonderful opportunity for any student
who is invited to be in the program.
Science Bound is a great program
for all children who are willing and
who are interested in exploring
themselves, Blepo said. I would
recommend it to anybody and
any child.

Ansah is also a Science Bound

Ambassador, which prepares students
to present demonstrations and serve
as accessible role models to middle
and high school students.
Although Ansah is very involved,
she takes time out to give back to the

Cynthia Blepo (far left), and daughter Grace Ansah (far right) spoke to Science Bound
families in 2015.
SCIENCE BOUND | FALL 2015 / WINTER 2016 7

2156 Gilman Hall

2415 Osborne Dr.
Ames, IA 50011-1021
515 294-1390
sciencebound@iastate.edu
www.sciencebound.iastate.edu
Supported by:
Iowa State University
ISU Department of Human Sciences, School of Education
DuPont Pioneer
Smithfield Foods, Learners to Leaders
United Way of Central Iowa
Emerson Process Management, Fisher
Andersen Corporate Foundation
Mechdyne Corporation
and many private sponsors.

United Way
As part of its collaboration
with United Way of Central
Iowa (UWCI), Science Bound is
increasing the number of
Des Moines youth who
successfully transition from
middle to high school.
Since 2013, more than 50 young
people have been added to
the Science Bound program at
Harding, Hiatt and Hoyt to help
UWCI meet one of its education
priorities: Ensuring that all
central Iowa youth are ready for
college, career and life. Funding
programming that successfully

transitions students from middle to

high school is just one of UWCIs
strategies to address the need.
Science Bound used UWCI
funding to provide additional
teacher support within the selected
schools in order to ensure strong,
consistent, high-quality student
engagement, as well as to cover
supplies, resources, activities and
administrative expenses.

than 90 percent of 8th graders to

the high school program.
What our success rate
demonstrates is that, with the right
supports, all students can succeed,
said Dr. Denice Ross Haynes,
acting Science Bound director.

With three years of support from

UWCI, Science Bound has been
able to prove that its model works
by successfully transitioning more

SCIENCE BOUND FALL 2015 / WINTER 2016