June 2000 Excerpt NSWCCD-SSES Adopts George Washington Carver High School |
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By Leslie Spaulding On May 15, NSWCCD-SSES officially adopted George Washington Carver High School of Engineering and Science in a ceremony held at the school. Taking part in the ceremony from NSWCCD-SSES were Captain Philip Johnson, Commanding Officer, and Meridel Peterson, Diversity Workforce Manager (0034). From the Philadelphia School District were David Hornbeck, Superintendent of Schools; Rosalind Chivis, Principal, George Washington Carver High School; Annette Sample, Intern Coordinator; Michael Clayton, Cluster Leader; Dr. Lisa Yancy and Mark Heiser, Alumni- Co-Presidents; Michelle Lockett, Home and School President; and Sam Laurencin and Carmen Rosa, Student Government Co-Presidents. Performing in the ceremony were the HSES Band and the Asian Club. In his remarks, Johnson said, "This ceremony marks a milestone in the education possibilities for the outstanding students at George Washington Carver High School. By adopting your school as a partner, the working engineers and scientists at NAVSSES are promising their help, their knowledge, their experience to assist you as you pursue engineering ... Generally speaking, women are underrepresented in technical fields in today's workforce. Almost half of Carver's student body is female. This school's charter and the partnership make an opportunity for the young ladies here to enter an exciting, technologically-advanced career field- A field that needs their fresh ideas." Referring to a statement made by Johnson, which began "By the time you are graduate engineers," Hornbeck told the students that they are witness to a future that is unparalleled in the history of the world. "What you are engaged in right now is an acceleration of discovery of creativity that is unparalleled. One of the most extraordinary statistics I've ever heard is that 95% of all the scientists that have ever lived on this planet are alive today. And when you think about what that means to the acceleration of discovery in the world in which you are going to find yourselves and the kinds of challenges you face ... It unfolds not by one's self, not a single one of us gets it done by ourselves. It's for that reason I want to thank Captain Johnson and his colleagues for their great contribution..." Peterson picked up on this emphasis of partnership. "What is a partnership?" she asked. "It is participation, association and joint interest. It's teaming and commitment. We at NSWC view this partnership as an opportunity to give back to the community by being available to assist students..." Some of the ways in which NSWCCD-SSES plans to assist students includes:
During the ceremony, the adoption papers were signed. Additionally, two Carver students selected for our Science and Engineering Apprentice Program (SEAP) were announced. These students are Jermaine You, who will be mentored by Mars Quinto (9444), and Brad Goldberg, who will be mentored by Marie Nichols (3445). The Adopt-A-School Program establishes a voluntary, long-term partnership between Navy commands and public/private schools. The program's goals are to establish a long-term commitment to assist the students to meet the entry-level requirement of an increasingly technological workplace. The Command selected Carver High School for adoption because it is a magnet school dedicated to teaching principles of engineering and science with a large population of minority and female students in the engineering science curriculum. The student population at Carver is as follows: 14% white, 78% African American, 2% Hispanic, and 6% Asian. Forty-two percent are female. Nearly 100% of the students enter higher education following 11th or 12th grade. NSWCCD-SSES engineers and management saw this school and its students as an excellent opportunity to give back to the community by being available to assist students in their studies, teaming with students, and serving as role models within the engineering community. The adoption resulted from the hard work of the Diversity Workforce Office (0034) and the following employees: Vincenza Alberti (0201), Shirley Ames (0032), John Annan (9613), Stephen Annan (9422), Michael Barbakoff (003), Jean Campenella (02), Roseann Castonguay (0032), Warren Christensen (021), Catherine Holding (9444), Frederick Vath (9323), and Elizabeth Walsh (9324). "This partnership did not happen overnight," said Johnson. "A lot of hard work went into establishing it. I thank everyone who had the foresight and drive to offer this opportunity for the students and those involved in making the partnership happen." If anyone is interested in working in partnership with Carver, please contact the Workforce Diversity Office at 215-897-7592. They need volunteers to see the vision of this partnership unfold.
For More Information Contact: Leslie Spaulding
at spauldingl@nswccd.navy.mil |
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