Page 27 - CH Spring17 Flipbook

///////////////////////////////
Giving Leadership
HHS Secretary Tom Price is at the head of the table, and Mr. Davis is immediately to his left. Across from Davis is the President & CEO of the National Restaurant Association, Ms. Dawn Sweeney.
On Wednesday, March 29th, Jeff Davis ’70 and other leaders from the NRA (National Restaurant Association) went to Capitol Hill to meet with Tom Price, our country’s Health and Human Services Secretary. Jeff and the NRA leaders were effective in reinforcing the challenges our industry faces with ObamaCare in its present form. And more importantly, helped open the door for the NRA to work even more closely with HHS and other agencies to address industry concerns.
ScienceFunding continuedfrompage13
have completely dropped all funding,” and he points out that the nine Oklahoma regional fairs can remain active if the schools can provide their own source of funding.
Apostolova adds,“We are hoping to continue contacting corporations and private donors in our ght for funding, but we are also looking to expand our mission to mentorship programs for inexperienced students and teams.”Apostolova, Ravitch, and Milford recognize the need to expand and promote science education and experiences beyond the traditional scope of the classroom. Such expansion for OSASS and Oklahoma students means that learning becomes proactive, relevant, and it champions the creativity needed to cultivate the innovators and researchers of the future.
Despite any budget cuts that Oklahoma schools may face, Cascia Hall will continue to provide an environment that stimulates the student exploration and growth in science, engineering, technology, and mathematics in addition to the ne and language arts.Thanks to Fenska’s dedication and Cascia Hall’s supportive administration, the Science Research Team is not going anywhere.
Contemplating on his experience with the Cascia Hall Science Research Team, Milford comments,“Cascia Hall has inspired me to challenge myself. I could make my classes easier if I wanted to, but Cascia provides me the opportunity and encourages me to push myself to be better. In addition, the focus on lab work and application of lessons - instead of just using a textbook - helps me to have a better and an acute understanding of the lessons we are taught. Ms. Fenska made my passion for the sciences a reality and showed me what I am capable of doing.”And he isn’t the only one who has been deeply affected by Ms. Sally Fenska, science research, and Oklahoma’s State Science and Engineering Fair.
Erika Ravitch ‘17 smiles as she reminisces on her freshman year when she stepped into Fenska’s Pre-AP Biology class.“I was inspired and dumbfounded by all that the science community had to offer.The classes I have taken at Cascia Hall have built a rm foundation for my scienti c literacy and have inspired my desire to explore science beyond the classroom.As a science research mentor of 35 years at the time, Ms. Fenska asked if I would consider doing independent research. My decision to join the Cascia Hall Science Research team with her support has been and will continue to be a de ning moment in my high school career.The background that my science courses provided inspired me to seek the latest in the science community and to examine what I could contribute, and my original research made me hungry to learn inside and outside of the classroom.The passion of my teachers for science and the support of the Cascia Hall Science Research Team has motivated me to pursue my STEM-focused interests and become a member of the global science community.”
As the student-founded and student-run organization OSASS begins its next step in assisting and advocating for science education and funding in Oklahoma, they all agree when they say that at the core of their mission is the belief that every student should have an experience that cultivates the pursuit of knowledge.
Oklahoma Students Advocating for Statewide Science have been showcased in the Tulsa World, on Tulsa’s Channel 2, and they can be liked and followed on their Facebook page, Oklahoma Students Advocating for Statewide Science - OSASS. Also, they would like to invite anyone that might have a potential sponsor to contact them at osass.ok@gmail.com, and we will make the introductions necessary to the ECU foundation.
27
www.casciahall.com | SPRING 2017