A partnership between the Kit Bond Science and Technology Incubator at Missouri Western State University and the Gifted and Talented Education program of the St. Joseph School District has been awarded the 2012 Community-Based Environmental Education Service Award by the Missouri Environmental Education Association.
The partnership has been developed by Debbi Wright, lab manager at the Bond Incubator, and Gwen Funk, elementary GATE teacher. The program allows students in the 4th through 6th grades to experience real-world environmental education investigations, benefiting the water quality of local waterways like Corby Pond, Otoe Creek and the nine ponds on Missouri Western’s campus.
Before starting the program, students have a lot of questions about the environment, but don’t have a good idea of how to pursue answers to their questions scientifically, said Deb Ballin, past president of MEEA. The partnership gives students the skills to conduct scientific investigations.
“With (this partnership), they do a lot better science, and they will in the long run solve some problems for us, I’ll bet ya,” Ballin said.
Ballin presented Wright and Funk with a plaque, certificate and letter of recognition for their efforts in educating students and the community on the environment in a brief Earth Day ceremony. She also presented a certificate to Kendra Lau, GATE coordinator, acknowledging her role in starting the program.
Wright, Funk and Lau are all alumnae of Missouri Western.
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.