For release Mar 15, 2009
Contact: Phil Houseal, Communications
(830) 997-3567 - phouseal@igniteeducation.org

San Antonio, TX - Colin Lang, science teacher at Alamo Heights High School, has earned the prestigious Science Education Award from the Southwest Foundation Forum of San Antonio. The award, which includes a financial stipend, will be presented at the annual spring luncheon on March 25 at The Argyle in San Antonio.

Lang has introduced the new SystemsGo Aeroscience curriculum to his students at Alamo Heights ISD last fall. This innovative approach to science education challenges high school students to design, build and launch rockets that can lift a one-pound payload one mile high. Fifteen students are currently enrolled in the junior level course.

"This program has really grown, and has already tripled in size," said Lang, who anticipates teaching three sections of SystemGo next fall, including the second level course in which students build rockets that break the sound barrier. "This class is exciting because it is applied physics - students are able to take data and apply it immediately.  That is what education is all about - that is learning."

Lang will use the funds from the grant to purchase tools and equipment for his classes to use in building rockets. He is also working on establishing a permanent classroom for his courses.

The SystemsGo Aeroscience curriculum was created by Ignite, a nonprofit organization formed to promote engineering studies through research, develop work force skills, and encourage students to enter careers in the engineering industries. It developed out of technology classes created by Brett Williams at Fredericksburg High School in the 1990s. This year 26 high schools in Texas offer the program. Students from Alamo Heights ISD will join the other schools in Fredericksburg April 24 - 26 for Rockets '09, when they launch the rockets they have designed and built. The event is open to the public.

More information on SystemsGo is available at www.igniteeducation.org.

Each year, the Science Education Awards are awarded to select area high school science departments in support of new and innovative programs that further the students' interest in and knowledge of science.

Matching funds come from the V.H. McNutt Memorial Foundation, and range in size from $1000 to $7000. The judging committee includes scientists from the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research. For more information on the Southwest Foundation Forum and past winners, visit www.swff.org.

XXX

PHOTO:
Colin Lang, science teacher, Alamo Heights High School, San Antonio TX