Registration is now open to Oklahoma students who will be in the ninth or 10th grades in the fall of 2014 for the annual Summer Science Academy at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. The deadline to apply is April 15, and the academy is June 1-7 at Northwestern’s Enid campus.
Up to 30 students will be selected to attend “Exploring the Benefits of Human-Animal Interaction” for free thanks to a grant provided by the Oklahoma State Board of Regents.
This academy uses animals as tools to teach scientific concepts, mathematics and enhanced health care for humans. The students will apply their learning through hands-on experiences, workshops and live human-animal interactions by visiting assisted living centers, child care centers and participating in a “reading to dogs” program. They also will develop innovative and creative ways of solving environmental and wildlife issues by observing science in action during trips to the Oklahoma City Zoo and the Oklahoma Aquarium. Further they will participate in other interactive, therapeutic activities in the community using service animals in human educational, emotional and healthcare fields.
Students will stay in campus housing provided by Northern Oklahoma College, and will have 24-hour adult supervision and will be provided three meals a day.
Questions should be directed to Dr. Sherril Stone, the academy's director and associate professor of psychology at Northwestern, at smstone@nwosu.edu or (580) 213-3119 in Enid. Stone said the selection process is competitive, and she will try to notify all students of their status by April 30. For students without an email address, please provide a phone number. All students must stay in university housing as there will be no commuter options.
The application form is a Word document and a link to it may be found online at www.nwosu.edu/summer-science-academy. Besides the application form, students will need to include a one page, typed statement on why they want to attend this academy, as well as a letter of recommendation from a teacher, preferably from a math or science teacher. All items may be emailed to Stone or printed out and mailed to her at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Psychology Department, 2929 E. Randolph, Enid, OK 73701.
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