News Briefs
Events Scott Receives Gates Millennium Scholarship Indian Springs School senior Kortnei Scott recently became the first ISS student to receive a prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship (GMS). She will attend Emory University in the fall and plans to become a medical research scientist. The GMS program, established in 1999, was initially funded by a 1-billion-dollar grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Its goal is to promote academic excellence and provide an opportunity for outstanding minority students with significant financial need to reach their highest potential. The program provides funding for undergraduate, masters, and doctoral level programs in the disciplines of education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health, and the sciences. Gates Millennium Scholars also have access to leadership training and other professional growth opportunities. Scott is an outstanding student and member of the Indian Springs School community. She was a four-year boarding student, president of the African American Student Caucus, a member of Concert Choir, Key Club, and a proctor in the dormitories. In addition to the many ways she is involved at ISS, she was recently featured on the Oprah Winfrey show as one of the first group of “O Ambassadors.” She and fellow ISS senior, Kenneth Strickland, traveled to Kenya to build a school in just 3½ weeks time with ten other students from around the United States.
Proteins in Space On February 27, 15 Indian Springs juniors embarked on a unique adventure as part of an education outreach program developed by Dr. Joseph Ng of the University of Alabama at Huntsville and Dr. Larry DeLucas of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The students spent an entire day in Dr. DeLucas’ lab listening to lectures on protein crystallization and learning laboratory techniques that will be used to prepare proteins for their ultimate journey aboard a Russian Soyez Rocket to the International Space Station. The purpose of the research is to evaluate the effects of microgravity on protein crystallization. Studying protein crystals, allows scientists to gain a better understanding of the structural features of the proteins which helps them to understand their roles in life processes and their current usages in rational drug design. Students in this class are continuing the initial research at the ISS Biology lab with science teacher Bob Pollard and are preparing proteins that will be carried to the space station in October 2008. After several weeks growing in zero-gravity conditions, the proteins will be returned to Earth and evaluated by Drs. DeLucas and Ng, along with ISS students: George Ryan Connor, ’09, Davis Stibolt, ’09, Stephanie Shooner, ’09, Molly Pace, ’09, Veronica Ciniglio, ’09, (pictured left) Steve Hawley, ’09, Johann Choo, ’09, Freddie Delchamps, ’09, Taylor Hogan, ’09, Michelle Rezonzew, ’09, Rebecca Barr, ’09, Matthew Dix, ’09, Allison Moore, ’09, and Shaina Simon, ’09.
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Making Art Connections On April 25–27, Magic City Art Connection, Alabama’s nationally ranked and award winning festival, celebrated its 25th Anniversary in downtown Birmingham. Indian Springs School had a booth at the festival to display student and faculty art work and promote the school. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and parents helped man the booth during the three-day show. Pictured are Sarah Spuell, ’08 and Chappell Stewart, ’08 serving as hostesses at the booth.
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(1) Young Chul Hong (class of ’06), the president of the Korean ISS student association hosted the Korean ISS 3rd annual reunion in Seoul on July 12th. Toast to the Teachers: (2) Winners of the Bocce Tournament “The Stew”Keehn Strange ‘08, Ben Guion ‘08, David Pigue ‘08, and Bob Pollard (3) Tevon Edwards ’08 playing bocce. (4) Emma Castleberry making a toast.
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