KNOXVILLE — Comprehensive sex education in public schools. Bullying and intolerance of diversity in schools. A school curriculum about alternative energy.
These issues are among those being explored in projects prepared by nine area high school students doing summer internships at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The students will gather Friday to present their projects to a panel of city, county and UT officials.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Friday, June 26, in Toyota Auditorium in the Baker Center, 1640 Cumberland Ave. Light refreshments will be provided.
Each summer, the Baker Center welcomes a group of high school juniors and seniors as interns. Students are chosen because they demonstrate high academic performance, leadership skills, and an interest in public service and public policy.
Here is a list of the interns and the projects they will present Friday:
– Sarah Craig, West High School, Knox County — Comprehensive sex education in Knox Co. Schools.
– Camera Foster, Carter High School, Knox County — Intolerance of Diversity in Schools – ways to deal with this problem.
– Will Kronick and Olivia Talman, both West High School, Knox County — Accountability and evaluation of teachers; merit pay; incentives for entering teaching.
– Meredith Lee, Webb School of Knoxville — Research assistance for local public officials.
– Leah Moulton, Tuacahn High School for the Performing Arts, Ivins, Utah –Bullying in schools (kids in grades 6-10).
– Daniel Roberts, Gatlinburg-Pittman High School, and Ben Terpstra, Oak Ridge High School — Alternative energy curriculum and awareness in the schools.
– Cody Sokoll, Maryville High School — Service learning to reform education and improve academic achievement.
Guest judges will be present to ask questions and offer feedback on projects. This panel includes Bob Whetsel, director of redevelopment, city of Knoxville; Sarah Gardial, vice provost for faculty affairs; Leah Adinolfi, Metropolitan Drug Commission; and Carl Pierce, interim director, Baker Center.
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C O N T A C T :
Gavin Luter, (865-974-1462, dluter@utk.edu)