While most students were resting over spring break, the 10 juniors participating in the “Apprentice Challenge” were busy teaching Denver middle schoolers about math and science.

Sixty kids in sixth and seventh grade came to campus March 24-25, the first two days of spring break, for fun- and fact-filled sessions on math, science, engineering and technology from the two Apprentice teams, the A-Team and the 5280 Closers.

The CH2M Hill Dreamers Math and Science Challenge was the third of four month-long community-oriented projects in the Apprentice Challenge series, which is coordinated by the Office of Alumni Relations and the Alumni Association. This project was jointly sponsored by CH2M Hill and the Colorado I Have a Dream Foundation.

A Team members Kaleigh Braun, standing, and Ashley Gilchrist, third from right, worked with the middle school students March 24. Photo by Julie Strasheim

Encouraging dreamers
From March 7-28, the Apprentice teams worked to develop math and science projects for Denver middle school students from low-income families who are involved in the Colorado I Have a Dream Foundation. The foundation provides a long-term drop-out prevention program for youth from disadvantaged communities (called Dreamers) in metro Denver.  It selects a group of third-graders and provides them services for 10 years, including mentoring, academic assistance, life-skills development, enrichment and tuition assistance for higher education.

The Apprentice teams were charged with developing a fun, interactive and engaging three-hour program to teach the middle school students about and inspire them to consider a career in science, math, engineering or technology (STEM).

The teams were required to do the following: develop a multi-media presentation to introduce the concept of engineering to the students, making it relevant and tangible to middle school students; identify and lead the students in at least one hands-on activity; develop a kit that students could take home after the event to encourage further exploration of STEM; and develop a curriculum binder for Colorado I Have a Dream teachers to use in implementing programs and activities to support STEM education throughout the school year.

Chris Butler, left, a CH2M Hill engineer, talks with members of the 5280 Closers team after they won the CH2M HILL Dreamers' Challenge. Photo by Chris Lawson.

Final presentation
The teams presented their results to judges from CH2M Hill, the Colorado I Have a Dream Foundation, and Metro State faculty, staff and alumni on Friday, March 28. Projects were judged on how well the teams inspired and educated the middle schoolers, among other criteria.

Brooke Dilling, director of Student Activities, was one of the judges. “What was neat about this project was that it really fulfilled the urban land-grant role of Metro State,” Dilling said. “Our students used college facilities and resources, combined with their own impressive creativity, to address community needs identified by CH2M Hill and the I Have a Dream Foundation.”

The winning Apprentice Challenge team, the 5280 Closers, was rewarded for its efforts with a ski day at Winter Park on Sunday, March 30. The prize included free passes on the Ski Train, lift tickets and equipment rental.

What’s next
On April 4, participants will begin the final project, the Alliance for Sustainable Colorado—Business Eco Audit Challenge, in which they conduct energy audits of local businesses.

The deadline to buy tickets for the May 1 finale event, “The Boardroom,” at which the overall individual winner will be chosen by attendees, is April 23. The overall winner will receive a full-year scholarship and a paid internship during his or her senior year.

To buy tickets or to read more about the Apprentice Challenge @ Metro State, go to http://www.mscd.edu/%7Ealumni/apprenticechallenge.