Cool at School

By Michelle Church

An exciting opportunity is being offered to a group of students at Carmichaels Area High School. For many high school students, a peek at a college’s brochure might be the most information they get about a school before visiting campus. Students at Carmichaels Area High School are able to experience their very first college level courses within the comfortable and familiar environment of their high school.

Chemistry teacher, and adjunct college professor, Kevin Willis, brings his love of the subject to his students. He supports and guides them through an authentic Carlow University Chemistry course. Dr. Monique Hockman, professor at Carlow, “shared resources, materials, laboratory activities, and even the general chemistry textbook that she authored,” says Mr. Willis. Chemistry Department Chair Dr. David Gallaher and program co-ordinator Jo Danhires were also instrumental in the introduction of the course.

In addition to easing the transition from high school to college, the savings can be exceptional. Students are offered the chance to purchase college credits for their course for around $75 per credit. The same credits if taken at the college itself would cost around $800 per credit. The course offered in college level chemistry is 4 credits, potentially saving students up to $2,900.

There are currently twenty-five students, a mix of juniors and seniors, enrolled in the chemistry course. Teacher Kevin Willis advised the students of the opportunity during their sophomore level chemistry course.

Students are learning many unique experiments. So far they’ve learned how to create aromatic esters in scents such as banana and apple. They were able to produce camphor, which is the active ingredient in Vick’s VapoRub. One student mentioned that her favorite experiment was studying oxidation and redox reactions. “One unique opportunity that our students have is that they get to experience real college chemistry laboratory activities led by Carlow Chemistry Department,” states Mr. Willis.

The students taking the course spent time at Carlow University in late March participating in three College Chemistry lab activities, including one using a chromatography column to separate Kool-Aid into its separate dyes.

Along with chemistry high school to college, courses are offered in Calculus for 4 credits. 3 credit classes offered are Pre-Calculus,Psychology and Sociology. Carmichaels is looking into adding Anatomy 1 and Anatomy 2 as well as Physics.

Former student Madison Pratt says, “It will lighten your load in college,” if you take the courses starting in high school. Madison is currently in her second semester at Carlow and credit-wise is equal to a college sophomore. Katelyn Conley, another former student, states, “You will be ahead of everyone!”

Three students, including Madison Pratt and Katelyn Conley, are enrolled at Carlow after taking CUHS course at Carmichaels. Several students have told me that they found Carlow as a direct result of taking the high school to college course.

Albert Einstein once said, “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge”. After conversing with former students of this course, it is clear to see how Kevin Willis and Carlow University have inspired a love of learning.