The January meeting of the Manhattan Branch of AAUW featured Becky Catlin, Director of Manhattan STARBASE Academy as she made us aware that STARBASE is more than a fieldtrip. It’s an interactive experience. She gave us an informative talk about the collaborative effort between the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the National Guard with the STARBASE program. After retiring from teaching middle school she taught at STARBASE then became the director of the Manhattan STARBASE Academy. Participation in the program by Manhattan area students showed a dramatic increase from 2012 in which 234 students from 6 schools participated to 1,328 students from 28 schools attending the STARBASE program in 2016. What great success that shows. There are five STARBASE programs throughout Kansas with Karen Whitacre serving as the Kansas Executive Director.
In 1993 the DoD funded a school year program for all youth. Thus the first STARBASE program began. The DoD works with students in 4th through 6th grade in this free educational program. Many of the schools served by STARBASE are Title 1 schools. Students attend 5 days such as 5 Mondays of programs that are designed to impact greatly our youth in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. With hands on projects the students make and launch rockets, work with model spacecraft, work with hoover craft, make and launch Alka-seltzer rockets, work on CAD (computer aided design), study robotics, make compounds and elements with molecules and they study energy. With a minds-on atmosphere stressed, they are constantly shown how design of and working with the objects applies to daily life. This program is especially inspiring to young girls. Their confidence to pursue STEM fields increases and they develop a “we can do it” attitude. The Air and Army National Guard in Manhattan will also let them become familiar with items they use for their daily routines. Additional information can be found at dodstarbase.org or www.kansasstarbase.org.
AAUW wants to thank the ladies and gentlemen of Trinity Presbyterian Church for hosting our meeting and serving a great meal.
The next Manhattan AAUW Branch meeting will be at First Congregational Church, 700 Poyntz Avenue with Dinner at 6:00pm and the program at 6:45 pm. The program will be on “Unconscious Bias” lead by AAUW members Patricia Hudgins and Mary Stamey. Prior to the meeting members are asked to read “The Science behind Implicit Bias” in the Spring 2016 issue of AAUW Outlook magazine. Persons interested in learning more about AAUW in Manhattan may go to manhattan-ks.aauw.net or email manhattanksaauw@gmail.com.