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MEDIA ADVISORY
August 8, 2003
CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119
MIDDLE SCHOOLERS TO LEARN ABOUT FORENSIC SCIENCE AND CAREERS DURING DREAMER COLLEGE CAMP AT DRAKE
Approximately
24 middle school students from the "I Have
A Dream" Foundation's
1997 Oakridge Neighborhood Project are spending one of the last weeks of
their summer vacation at Drake University, learning about forensic science
and various
careers in crime scene investigation.
The students will attend Dreamer College Camp at Drake's School of Education
the week of Aug. 11-15. They will be divided into groups of six that will
explore the following areas of forensic science:
After learning
about all four areas, the students will be grouped into four investigative
teams, each with a different specialty. Then on Friday,
Aug. 15, the teams will
work together to investigate a crime scene related to a hypothetical
case - a dognapping of Drake's mascot, Spike the bulldog.
"
The dognapping case is a fun and relevant way for the students to see firsthand
the things they study and learn during the week simulated as an actual career," said
James C. Work, executive director of the "I Have A Dream" Foundation. "Since
one of the main goals of the camp is to excite and educate the students about
college and careers, having this final component is not only fun but fitting."
Two Drake University professors and eight student teachers will
conduct the science activities for the students. All of the activities
are
designed to
give the students
an exciting, hands-on experience that exposes them to possible
careers and what it takes to make the career a real possibility.
To provide
a first-hand perspective
on a career in crime scene investigation, Kristi Evans, an analyst
for the
Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, will speak to the campers
at 12:45 p.m. on
Monday, Aug. 11.
Interacting with the campers will give Drake student teachers valuable
experience in working with urban students from low-income families. "The camp offers
Drake School of Education students an exceptional opportunity to learn first
hand the joys and challenges of working with urban students," said DeDe
Small, assistant professor of education at Drake. "Our students will
learn the importance of positive management and the powerful dynamic that
exists between
a teacher and a student."
"
The Dreamer College Camp gives future teachers an opportunity to work with tougher,
at-risk kids who aren't always as interested in learning," Work added. "It's
a learning experience for both the educators and the kids."
The Des Moines "I Have A Dream" Foundation provides a long-term program
of mentoring, tutoring, and enrichment for groups of at-risk youth. "Because
we believe that children who can dream about the future are children who will
want to graduate from high school and seek further education, our task is to
stimulate their dreams and help facilitate their achievement," Work said.
The 1997 Oakridge Neighborhood Project of the Des Moines "I Have a Dream" Foundation
is sponsored by Des Moines businessman Dick Jacobson and Drake alumni Lyle and
Joan Middleton, and their families. The foundation is a local member of the national "I
Have a Dream" network.
The Des Moines "I Have a Dream" Foundation builds dreams for 47 disadvantaged
youth in Des Moines by providing them with a 12-year program of mentoring, tutoring,
and enrichment. The Foundation believes that dreams are a key to success and
they are built one step at a time as children grow up. "The College Camp
is an important building block for our dreamers because it expands their life
experiences so they have opportunities above and beyond those that would be traditionally
available to them," Work said.
Dreamers explore various jobs/careers, use the educational knowledge
required to make those jobs/careers possible, and present what
they have learned
to the group. The Dreamer College Camp supplements the on-going
support the
Des Moines "I
Have a Dream" Foundation provides the dreamers.
Support for Dreamer College Camp comes from Kemin Industries, The
Principal Financial Group Foundation and Drake University.
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Note to Media: Dreamer College Camp will be held in Drake's School
of Education, 3206 University Ave. The best times to visit the
camp are
between 9 and
11:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 14, and between 10 and 11:30 a.m. and
between 12:45 and
1:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15.