The University of Montana - Western

TRiO Math/Science Upward Bound

Summer 2006

We began the summer of 2006 with some team building exercises and training on map, GPS, and compass in preparation for our fieldwork. During the first week we also took part in Excel and Technical Writing classes. By the second week, students were split into four research teams and began their fieldwork.

The Clark Fork River Superfund Site research was designed by Matt Vincent with assistance from Kyle Gunderman, both of the Clark Fork Watershed Education Project at Montana Tech. Becca Woods assisted in the field. They examined the effects of mining on various creeks in the area, including German's Gulch and Silver Bow Creek. They collected information about pH, temperature, vegetation, and macro invertebrates from each site.

The Hydrology Research Team was led by Dan Pence. This research team learned about the relationship between cattle and waterways in Montana. They studied the water speed, stream path, and gradient of nearly twenty streams. They were able to provide the Forest Service with valuable data at the completion of their project!
	The Entomology Research Team was led by our very own MSUB graduate, Victoria Miranda. This research team studied local insect populations and invertebrate pathology. This team took trips to different habitats, and learned how to collect, sort, and identify insects!

Rick Nordahl and Brett Carver led the Engineering Research Team, which worked on the UM-Western campus. The engineers completed two projects this year. The students were split into three subgroups for the first project, where they built catamarans. This project concluded with a race across the lake! For the second project, the students got the chance to build and launch their own rockets!

During the final week of the program, students took classes on PowerPoint, Technical Writing, and Speech from UM Western and BCHS faculty. They applied this knowledge to create research papers based and PowerPoint presentations that were based on their fieldwork. Their findings were presented in a symposium to end the summer program.

Discovery Sites is the TRiO MSUB job shadowing program, and all students were offered at least one opportunity to spend an afternoon in the field with professionals in math and science careers. This year the students had the choice of:

Speech Therapy with Kitty Griffin
Occupational Therapy with Dorathy DeHart
NCRS with Kris Berg
Small Animal Hospital with Andrea Simonson
Veterinary Hospital with Dale and Lynn Brown
Radiology with Dale Brown
Barrett Minerals with Elizabeth Thornton
Surgical Nursery with Carol Ruppal
Industrial Technologies with Mark Rogstad
Hospital Pharmacy with Matt Bowman
Microbiology with Dr. Mike Morrow

Field trips are also an important part of the TRiO MSUB experience. This year, the students did a lot of traveling outside of their reasearch groups, which included:

An Orientation retreat at Birch Creek, which included workshops and a low ropes course

Virginia City play and barbeque

Upward Bound Olympics at Flathead Valley Community College

Tour of Lewis and Clark Caverns and Montana State University in Bozeman

Orienteering contest at Mineopa and Twin Lakes

Rock-climbing and picnic at Barrett's Park

Barrett Minerals with Elizabeth Thornton

Crystal Park and Elkhorn Hot Springs

Life 101 is an ongoing series of workshops and speakers designed to round out our curriculum in a fun way. Life 101 offers students a glimpse outside of our wall and expands student's knowledge of careers and fields of study. Life 101 also offers practical and personal development opportunities. The following topics were offered this year:

Resume 101

Admissions 101 - Applying to College

College 101 - Financial Aid and FAFSA

Recycling 101 - Patagonia Outlet

Money 101 - Paying for College

Plagiarism 101

Politics 101 - The Politics of Space

Career and Cultural Experiences

Semester at Sea

College Jeopardy

Intro to College (Bridge Scholars Panel)

Service Learning Projects - Patagonia Outlet and the Dillon Humane Society

Finally, during the fourth week, the students took the annual Career, College, and Cultural (CCC) exploration trip. This year the new students traveled to Great Falls, where we got a tour of the fish hatcheries at Giant Springs State Park and learned about careers in biology. In addition, we took a tour of the University of Great Falls and learned about scholarships and the majors that they offer.  On top of that, we went to the Electric City Water Park, went to a concert, and enjoyed a Mongolian barbeque!

Returning TRiO MSUB students got the chance to travel to Seattle for their Career, College, and Cultural experience. On the way, we stopped in Cheney, WA for a tour of Eastern Washington University. Once in Seattle, we visited the Google headquarters and had one-on-one lunch interviews with a Google engineers to learn about careers in technology and engineering. We also got to tour the Experience Music Project Museum. In additon, we went to Pike's Place Market, Queen Anne's Hill, took an Argosy Harbor cruise, and dined at an authentic Moroccan restaurant!  Last but not least, we spent a day at Six Flags Enchanted Village!

University of Montana Western

Updated on: 07/17/07