Jacob Whitehead off to Missouri S&T
Special to the American
Jacob Whitehead, a third grade student at Jury Elementary in the Hazelwood School District, is going to college on a scholarship this summer.
Missouri University of Science and Technology, formerly the University of Missouri-Rolla, awarded Whitehead a scholarship to attend Aerospace Camp at the university. For three days in July, he will actively experience aeronautics and space flight from a ground-up perspective, learn about the history of flight, astronomy and space exploration, use computer simulations, participate in interactive teamwork activities and hands-on experiences. The camp is designed for children age 10 to 12 years old.
His mother, Alvinita Whitehead, said that this will be his first experience with the camp and that he is “very interested in science.”
To prepare for the camp, he is going to build a robot at home.
“The robot has to pick up a ball, put it in a basket, pick the ball up again and bring it back to me,” he said. “And it will be remote-control.”
He also plans to build a ship that will fly 9 feet into the air, come back down, pick up a ball and return it to him, also by remote control. As he explained how the ship would perform, his gaze became focused and his hands moved to the ideas in his head.
He builds robots at home with K’Nex building sets. He said that he likes to problem-solve with his inventions and learn from his mistakes. He has other interests in the realm of science, too, such as planets and animals.
“I like planets and that some don’t have gravity, and I like to learn about their movements,” he said.
“I like to learn about animals and how they live and how strong they are. I like all dangerous animals, too.”
He talked about crocodiles and snakes and how he has been paying attention to venomous snakes and pythons. He enjoys watching the Animal Planet Network and his favorite show is Raw Nature.
When he grows up, his interest in science may lead him to his future. He wants to be a doctor; or a professional wrestler.
In the meantime, his mother said that he is being tracked academically for entry into an early college program that will allow him to finish his junior and senior years of high school at a college and graduate with a diploma and an associate’s degree. Afterward, he’ll continue his education toward earning an undergraduate degree.
At Aerospace Camp, he will spend three days and two nights at Missouri S&T. The camp experiences include an interactive mission with the Challenger Learning Center, computer-based flight simulation, hands-on robotics, rocket construction and launching, science learning with university students and faculty and adventure-based team building activities.
Mound City Bar announces 2008 scholarships
The Mound City Bar Foundation will awards its 2008 scholarships to Bayonle Osundare and Beverly Taylor and the Scovel Richardson Scholarship Dinner, to be held Saturday, June 28 at Moulin Vin de Set (2017 Chouteau, St. Louis).
Osundare has completed her first year of law school at Saint Louis University. This summer, she will be an intern at Gateway Legal Services.
Taylor has completed her first year of law school at the University of Missouri-Columbia. After law school, she envisions herself practicing law in the St. Louis area and actively assisting young people pursue legal careers.
The Scovel Richardson Scholarship was established in recognition of the outstanding contributions made by Judge Richardson to create a judiciary that was more responsive and accountable to African Americans and other minorities.
The scholarship awards are intended to assist with the educational costs of minority students with limited financial resources.
The Mound City Bar Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization established by the Mound City Bar Association to further promote the charitable and educational interests of the greater St. Louis metropolitan community and the legal community as a whole. For more information please contact Susie McFarlind, president of the foundation, at 314-621-7676, or Rufus Tate, president of the Mound City Bar Association, at 314-640-8283.
The Scovel Richardson Scholarship Dinner will be held Saturday, June 28 at Moulin Vin de Set (2017 Chouteau, St. Louis). The cost is $85. For tickets, contact Annette Slack, Scholarship Dinner chairperson, at (314) 335-1363 or slackrnjd@yahoo.com.
