Denice Ross Haynes, left, from Iowa State University Science Bound, speaks to parents and students about the program at Marshalltown High School on Feb. 22.
A strong partnership between Marshalltown Schools and Iowa State University is leading students into the science field.
Science Bound is its ninth year for students at Miller Middle School and Marshalltown High School. Students who are selected by their middle school teachers go on to participate in meetings and do extra work in the area of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) for the remaining 4 years of high school to be eligible for college tuition.
“Our main goal is to get students to college,” said Erica Malloy, a Project Lead the Way science teacher at MHS.
Science Bound held a parent information night at MHS on Feb. 22, which drew dozens of parents along with students. This meeting spotlighted opportunities for summer learning in the STEM field through Science Bound.
MHS junior Mary Drummer said Science Bound has taught her several different things.
“Science Bound has helped me in a lot of ways,” Drummer said. “It’s taught me to be self-motivated because things don’t just come to you. Science Bound has taught me how to look for opportunities and to take them, no matter how small or simple the opportunity may be. Science Bound has also taught me to work hard for the things you want.”
Science Bound is Iowa State University’s pre-college program to increase the number of ethnically diverse Iowa students who pursue degrees in the STEM field. The program draws students with potential from middle and high schools in Des Moines, Denison and Marshalltown. In Marshalltown, minority students are chosen by their 7th and 8th grade science teachers at Miller Middle School.
