Multi-ethnic group studies math and science at Lenoir-Rhyne College

(Seated, left to right): Aerial Smith of Whiteville, Clarissa Richardson of Rocky Mount, Crystal Tsang of Granite Falls, Jazmine Walker of Fayetteville, Katie Ramseur of Charlotte, Christa Carter of Charlotte, Shana Blount of Durham and Mahogany Woods of Durham. (Standing, left to right): Donavon Harbison of Morganton, Omar Santiago of Biesco, Denzel Jones of Dunn, Miguel Hernandez of Dobson, Trenton Evans of Bladenboro, Brandon Crutchfield of Candor, Juvarez Ogbuneke of Charlotte, Raul Belmonte of Dobson, Terrick Nelson of Fuquay-Varina, Jordan McIntyre of Goldsboro, Breana Carter of Charlotte and Shenika Taylor of Roseboro.

Take 20 students from various ethnic backgrounds, add science, math and lots of fun activities, and you have CIMAS, the Carolina Institute for a Multicultural Approach to Science.

This three-week, residential summer academy at Lenoir-Rhyne College encourages talented minority students to consider a college major in science or mathematics. Participants are chosen from throughout the state of North Carolina, and include rising high school sophomores and juniors. The program is free to the CIMAS Scholars thanks to a gift from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.

The students get what may be their first experience of living away from home while taking advanced math and science courses taught by college professors. This year the group includes African-Americans, Asian-Americans, one Native American and a few Latino students. The students come from various backgrounds. One student’s father is originally from Nigeria. Another student speaks Cantonese and Mandarin in addition to English. Others come from homes where Spanish is the primary language.

“It’s nice to see how they all get along and blend,” said Carol Johnson, CIMAS program coordinator. She said some of the students already have decided on a scientific career, while others are still exploring.

The camp allows them to study and explore in a supportive environment. It also shows them what it will be like to live in a college residence hall. “Some have learned to do laundry for the first time,” Johnson said with a chuckle.

The classes include math, where they learn to create and crack secret codes; computer science, where they learn to create their own 3-D website; photography, which teaches physics and chemistry; genetics, where they learn how real crime scene investigations are conducted; and environmental biology, where they study the many uses of kudzu.

But it isn’t all about classes. The students have also taken field trips to the N.C. Zoo and the Schiele Museum of Natural History. And there are recreational activities such as bowling and miniature golf.

CIMAS will continue through the school year, when participants are invited to return to campus with their families to meet visiting scientists and mathematicians who are minorities.

Students interested in applying for next year’s CIMAS program should contact their school guidance counselor in March or April of next year for application forms.

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