CENI Newsletter — April 3, 2024

Introduction

Happy Spring, everyone! This month, we are excited to welcome Gary Kirk as our new Associate Director for Research-Practice Partnerships. Dr. Kirk brings a wealth of experience to the role, which includes senior leadership positions in university-level centers at a range of institutions, an active interdisciplinary scholarly agenda of publishing and external funding at the intersection of institutions and communities, and a history of facilitating multi-stakeholder partnerships in community and academic settings around a wide variety of issues. Dr. Kirk has a BA in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from New College of Florida, a Master of Public and International Affairs from Virginia Tech, and a PhD in Environmental Design & Planning from Virginia Tech.

Please read on for information about past and upcoming events and a feature on Sherrié Bocock, our partner at the Science Museum of Western Virginia.

CENI Spotlight

This month, we feature Sherrié Bocock, the Director of Education for the Science Museum of Western VA.

Sherrié Bocock is the Director of Education for the Science Museum of Western Virginia and is “always learning and striving to be presently passionate.” At the Science Museum of Western Virginia, she works alongside the best and brightest to make STEM accessible and inclusive.

With her background in education, Sherrié has over 20 years of experience teaching in Virginia, predominantly in the Early Childhood Education and Outdoor programs. In these programs, Sherrié has had the opportunity to teach young minds through hands-on experiences, which has shaped her into the formal and non-formal classroom coordinator she is today. Not only does she teach and facilitate our education systems, but she also has over 11 years of experience supporting our community with certifications as a Doula and Movement facilitator. She is always humbled by the invitation to take up space with folks.

Sherrié aspires to bring STEAM to our cities and surrounding mountains and believes learning more about how we interweave connections and classrooms is important to our region. She is truly an honored member of CENI and strives to continue the legacy of collaboration.

Fun Facts: Sherrié is a mother to two boys and a community activist who’s always looking for new ways to bring science and our surrounding cultures together to create new ways of learning and living.

Campus Engagement Network Updates

Fralin Life Sciences Institute STEM summer camps

Camp Application (Registration Deadlines are 7 days prior to each week of camp)

Dates: 

• May 28 - 31
• June 3 - 7
• July 8 - 12
• July 15 - 19
• July 29 - Aug. 2
• August 5 - 9

Registration is now open for STEM summer camps! Virginia Tech’s Fralin Life Science Institute will offer six-week-long science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) summer camps for kids between the ages of 9 and 12 in collaboration with 4H. Each camp will have similar activities (making sliders, visiting the Hahn Horticulture Garden, making magnetic slime, participating in an Egg Drop, building sundials, tie-dye activities, making homemade balm, and crystal growing). For more information, click here.

Save the Date: Hokie Bug Camp and Hokie BugFest 

Department of Entomology Youth Programs 

Dates: 

• Hokie BugCamp - July 12-13
• Hokie BugFest - Saturday, October 12

The Virginia Tech Department of Entomology offers many educational youth programs to celebrate the science of entomology through fun, hands-on activities. Hokie BugCamp and BugFest are two special events that have been an annual tradition. This year, Hokie BugCamp is set on July 12-13th, 2024, and Hokie BugFest is set on October 12th, 2024. Explore last year’s event highlights for what to expect: Hokie BugCamp 2023 and Hokie BugFest 2023. As these events slowly approach, be on the lookout for registration information as they fill up fast!

CENI and CENI Partners in the News

Liaisons Corner

Floyd County Public Schools

Third and fourth-grade students at Check Elementary School wove CDs using upcycled materials under the direction of art teacher Amanda Janney and Moss Arts Center Engagement Manager Kari Heistead. The Moss Arts Center, in partnership with Virginia Tech University Libraries, New River Creative Reuse Center, and New River Art and Fiber, sponsored the collective regional project. The artwork was displayed at the Moss Arts Center before becoming part of a traveling exhibit that was featured at the Check Elementary School Art Show in March.

Interested in partnering with Floyd County Public Schools? Contact Kim Keith. 

Giles County Public Schools

Interested in partnering with Giles County Public Schools? Contact Caitlin Thorn.

Pulaski County Public Schools

Health & Medical Science students at Pulaski County High School participated in Brain Day, an experience designed to teach students about the brain. During their visit, students toured the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) facility, learned how substances affect the brain, and experienced multiple methods scientists use to research the brain and behavior.

Juniors in the Culinary Arts and Cybersecurity programs at Pulaski County High School attended Tech Tracks to learn about career path opportunities at Virginia Tech. Culinary students enjoyed tours of dining facilities and conversations with top chefs. In contrast, Cybersecurity students toured the server room and facility and learned about the various jobs in Information Technology that help the university run.

Virginia Tech Facilities Department and the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine were exhibitors at the Pulaski County High School Opportunities Fair. Professionals from both organizations met with students and discussed career options available to them after graduation.

Through a partnership with the Moss Arts Center, Pulaski County Middle School and Pulaski County High School students enjoyed an in-school performance from the Chicano Indie-folk band Las Cafeteras in the Jeff McCoy Theater at Pulaski County High School. The ensemble visited Pulaski County Public Schools ahead of their evening performance.   

Interested in partnering with Pulaski County Public Schools? Contact Megan Atkinson.

Radford City Public Schools

Students from the Radford High School junior class, Pulaski County, and Giles County Schools explored career path opportunities on the Virginia Tech campus through Tech Tracks, a one-day campus event open to area high school juniors. Tech Tracks provides the opportunity for students to visit different departments within their chosen industry track and to be exposed to careers within that field. The various tracks included Information Technology, Campus Planning, Facilities Operations, Hospitality, Infrastructure, Public Safety, Sciences, Advancement, and Finance & Administration. The event was coordinated by Ashley Carter, VT Community and Engagement Recruitment Specialist, and Jeff Cumberland, VT Director of Talent Acquisition.  

Interested in partnering with Radford City Public Schools? Contact Jamie Little.

Science Museum of Western Virginia

Interested in partnering with the Science Museum of Western Virginia? Contact Phyllis Newbill.

Virginia Tech Roanoke Center

Interested in partnering with the Virginia Tech Roanoke Center? Contact Don Pizzullo.

Upcoming Deadlines and Events

• 4/3 Hokie for a Day - Eastern Montgomery Elementary School
• 4/10 Hokie for a Day - Stuart Elementary School
• 4/17 Hokie for a Day - Floyd Elementary School
• 4/29 ICAT Day
• 7/12-13 Hokie Bug Camp - Save the Date 
• 10/12 Hokie BugFest- Save the Date