Sep 13

MST Senior’s Summer Experience Showcased in Columbian

“Camas High School senior Monica Chang was one of 36 students from around the world to participate in the Summer Science Program in Biochemistry at Purdue University in Indiana, where she and others used wet lab techniques and modeling software to study an enzyme from a fungal pathogen and to design a small molecule inhibitor to protect crops from that fungus” (Columbian, September 12, 2018). Congrats, Monica, on your success with this transformative experience and summer program! Read the complete story here:  Camas senior spends summer in exclusive science program

Permanent link to this article: https://chsmstmagnet.com/2018/09/mst-seniors-summer-experience-showcased-in-columbian/

Aug 20

MST Freshmen Orientation, 8/29

Greetings, Magnetos!

First, let us once again welcome you to the program. We are very much looking forward to working with you this fall, which brings us to the purpose of this email.

Please mark your calendar for Wednesday, August 29th, the date we’ve set aside for our Freshmen MST Magnet Orientation. Our plan is for the incoming freshmen to meet our student chaperones at the front entrance of Camas High School at 3PM on that day.  Once all have arrived, we will use the next couple of hours to run students through some fun ice-breaker activities with MST staff and students, giving them a chance to get comfortable with us and their peers before day one of school.

At 5PM on that same day we will be doing some sort of a social gathering in the CHS North Commons with the incoming MST freshmen families and students where food will be provided, either a simple BBQ or pizza (TBD).  We should conclude the evening’s activities by about 6PM after a short staff welcome and presentation.   If you have any questions about this event, feel free to email, but please also let me know if you CAN’T make it.  We understand that this is a busy time of the year, so it’s not the end of the world if you’re unable to make it, but we certainly hope you can.

We wish you the very best on your remaining travels and journeys this summer.  Please email if you have any questions.

P.S. Please note that this event is separate from and not meant to replace the Camas High School freshmen orientation scheduled for this week.

Permanent link to this article: https://chsmstmagnet.com/2018/08/mst-freshmen-orientation-8-29/

Jun 20

Rising MST Jr. Slated to Spend Year in Ghana

Rising MST junior Emma McBride is the recent recipient of a prestigious full scholarship to study abroad next year in Ghana. The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, offers American high school students and recent graduates full scholarships to study for one academic year in countries with significant Muslim populations. Only 65 scholarships are awarded each year. Congrats, Emma!

In her own words: “I will be leaving at the end of this summer and returning at the end of next June. I am immensely excited to immerse myself in the culture, be a part of a host family, continue my academic studies and learn some of the native dialects such as Twi and Fante. However, as part of the program I plan to stay connected with CHS and represent Camas High School through my volunteering efforts in the local Ghanaian community.”

For more information about Ghana: http://www.yes-abroad.org/countries/ghana

For more info about the scholarship: http://www.yes-abroad.org/about/about-us

From left to right: Steve Marshall, Emma McBride, and Dr. Liza Sejkora

Permanent link to this article: https://chsmstmagnet.com/2018/06/rising-mst-jr-slated-to-spend-year-in-ghana/

May 04

Cascades Volcano Observatory Open House!

“The USGS-Cascades Volcano Observatory opens its doors to the public on Saturday, May 12, 2018, for a one-day open house. Scientists will be on-hand from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm to share the results of their research and talk about volcano hazards. Hands-on activities and equipment demonstrations will be featured.” Check it out!  

Permanent link to this article: https://chsmstmagnet.com/2018/05/cascades-volcano-observatory-open-house/

Apr 27

Summer Transportation Institute 2018

For the third year in a row, Portland State University is hosting a Summer Transportation Institute for high school girls. This two-week residence camp offers any student entering the 9–12 grade who identifies as female an immersive introduction to the workings of the Portland transportation system.

Half of each day is spent in the classroom hearing from PSU faculty and guest lecturers from ODOT, the FHWA, the Portland Bureau of Transportation, TriMet, the Port of Portland, and various other public and private transportation agencies that operate in the Portland metro area.

The other half is spent outside, in field tours of Portland’s transportation infrastructure and public spaces. Planners, engineers and designers come from all over the country to see Portland’s unique transportation system in action, and researchers use it as a testing ground for the most innovative solutions in safety, sustainability and livable efficiency.

Students are asked to choose a real-world transportation problem to investigate and use the skills they have gained to present a solution at the end of the course. Hands-on activities introduce students to GIS and transportation modeling software, and show how to use advanced technologies to achieve community goals.

APPLY TO ATTEND (closes April 29th)

Permanent link to this article: https://chsmstmagnet.com/2018/04/summer-transportation-institute-2018/

Apr 27

Ahoy! MST Teacher Dean Goes to Sea!

CHS/MST teacher Jennifer Dean was recently selected to serve for two weeks on a NOAA research vessel in the highly competitive and coveted Teacher at Sea program. Congratulations, Mrs. Dean!  Read all about it in the Post Record: Camas teacher earns coveted spot on NOAA research ship She will be blogging from the deck of the NOAA ship Pisces from May 12th through the 24th, so check her blog to get the latest updates: Dean Blogs on the Pisces

Permanent link to this article: https://chsmstmagnet.com/2018/04/ahoy-mst-teacher-dean-goes-to-sea/

Apr 26

2018 MST Research Symposium

We’d like to cordially invite you to join us in the CHS commons and theater on Wednesday, May 23rd, 2018, for the 11th annual Camas High School Magnet Program Student Research Symposium.

At this annual event, students from grades 9-12 will present their research findings from this year’s study of a wide range of project topics, showcasing their hard work in the program and giving them a chance to demo their findings in front of a live audience of peers and parents. In the second half of the evening, a few of these students will also make formal presentations of their work and MST experiences in the theater.

We look forward to seeing you at Camas High School on Wednesday, May 23rd, 2018. Please join us in celebrating their work!

Thank you,

MST Staff and Students

Agenda:

6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

  • Poster fair and social in the CHS commons
  • Refreshments provided

7:15-8:15 p.m.

  • Brief remarks in the CHS theater
  • Presentation of selected team research projects
  • Closing remarks

Permanent link to this article: https://chsmstmagnet.com/2018/04/2018-mst-research-symposium/

Apr 13

CHS/MST Program Featured in IT Promo Video

The MST Magnet program had the rare opportunity this past fall to be interviewed for a feature documentary being produced to highlight the opportunities and challenges in STEM education as we move into the 21st century.  Our contribution to Imagining Tomorrow: STEM and the Future of Work is just a fraction of the overall video, but It’s very well done and worth a look if you’re interested in this topic.

Among the many insights and potential future shifts gleaned from the research for the documentary, these four stood out to the directors and producers:

1. Succeeding by Failing – utilizing more trial and error and scientific method.
2. Extended Conversations – fostering career connected learning face to face.
3. Students Leading – encouraging self-directed student programs and projects.
4. Learning to Learn – emphasizing process, problem-solving communications.

How will we meet these challenges and opportunities? Hmmmm.

Permanent link to this article: https://chsmstmagnet.com/2018/04/chs-mst-program-featured-in-it-promo-video/

Mar 28

WSSEF 2018 Results

34 of our students competed in the Washington State Science and Engineering Fair this past weekend. Congratulations to all of them who represented our school and their research with pride. Particular shout-outs go to the following people:

Freshmen:

  • Alex Gee, Mark Robinson, and Jaden Le: 1st place in Environmental Engineering
  • Owen Baenen and Justine Pentergraft: 1st place in Energy
  • Gareth Starratt, George Walker, and Auny Kussad: 2nd place in Microbiology
  • Kate Staddon, Sophia Nelson, and  Rylee Ruark: 1st place in Environmental Science
  • Ben Saunders and Austin Ye: 1st place in Mechanical Engineering, $8000 Embry Riddle Launch Scholarship, U.S. Air Force Award for an Outstanding SEF Project, Excellence in Aeronautics Award
  • Michael Lee and Andrew Kim: 1st place in Environmental Science
  • Joey Stanley, Wilson Fresh, and Tyler Stanley: 1st place in Environmental Engineering
  • Tyler Gee and Julian McOmie: US Army Award

Sophomores:

  • Hannah Tangen, Kathryn Wynn, and Sierra Mellor: 1st place in Environmental Engineering
  • Jacob Mukobi: 2nd place in Environmental Engineering category.
  • Junha Lee: 1st place in Microbiology category; US Army STEM Award, Wolfram Alpha STEM Award
  • Alexis Howard: 2nd place in Computational Engineering

Juniors:

  • Rahul Ram: 2nd place in Computational Biology

Seniors:

  • Duy Vuong: 1st place in Environmental Engineering
  • Sarah Wells-Moran: 2nd place in Embedded Systems
  • Gabe Mukobi: 1st place in Embedded Systems and American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronauts Scholarship

Invited to compete in the International Science and Engineering Fair in May:

Rahul Ram, Odessa Thompson, Rose Leveen, and Bailey Segall.

From left to right: Duy Vuong, Shicon Wen (CHS/MST Class of ’14), Rahul Ram, Sarah Wells-Moran

Permanent link to this article: https://chsmstmagnet.com/2018/03/wssef-2018-results/

Mar 22

Admissions Decision Update

The MST staff are in the process of finalizing admissions decisions for the 2018-19 cohort. We expect to notify families by the middle part of next week, 03/28/18, at the earliest. Thank you again for your interest in the program.

Permanent link to this article: https://chsmstmagnet.com/2018/03/admissions-decision-update/