Outliers: Students in ACTION Newsletter
March 2020
Outliers: Students in ACTION is a monthly publication during the academic year highlighting students and events in the Science and Math Education in ACTION Choose Ohio First grant program at BGSU.
Table of Contents
Reflections from the ACTION Director
Choose Ohio First Scholar Showcase
First Year Research Projects
Cohort 12 Updates
Upcoming Events
Reflections from the ACTION Director
by Dr. Daniel Brahier

In late-February, I was at a restaurant with my wife when a graduate of the ACTION program approached us to talk. She was in town from the Columbus area to visit with friends and will be starting her fourth year of teaching in a middle school this fall. She was so complimentary of all that ACTION had done for her and how successful her teaching career has been. A couple of weeks before that, I received a message from another ACTION graduate who is in her third year of teaching in a high school in the Cleveland area. She has been asked by her district’s administrators to present several professional development sessions for her colleagues and reflected on how it feels for a third-year teacher to be assisting veteran teachers in changing their vision of classroom teaching.
 
Alumni who graduated in Cohorts 1 and 2 will be entering into their seventh and eighth years of teaching this fall. They are teaching all over the State of Ohio, impacting thousands of middle and high school students every year. Many have become curricular leaders in their districts. Most have earned Masters’ Degrees, many of which were paid for by their school districts and resulted in pay increases while maintaining the same teaching positions. It is looking back over the years – and connecting with alumni – that we begin to truly appreciate the impact that ACTION has had on BGSU and the State of Ohio.
 
In the Fall Semester of 2019, 58 out of 95 ACTION undergraduate scholars earned a perfect 4.00 grade point average, with a mean GPA of 3.81. This type of performance does not happen by chance. Instead, it is the result of considerable hard work and a culture of building a learning community that values working together. ACTION scholars perform to the highest standards in college, and this clearly continues into their teaching careers in which they are favored in job interviews and make their mark on local school districts.
 
As we continue through the Spring Semester, we are looking forward to welcoming our incoming first-year students in Cohort 12 this summer. It is an exciting time of year as we are preparing for these new students, while also gearing-up for graduation for our seniors in May. The program has never been stronger!
Choose Ohio First
Scholar Showcase

Six Cohort 10 scholars had the opportunity to present their first-year science and/or mathematics ACTION research projects through poster displays at the Choose Ohio First Scholar Showcase in Columbus on February 12. After sharing their research with many who attended, Chancellor Randy Gardner and Lt. Governor Jon Husted also interacted with the ACTION scholars to learn more about their research. A total of 18 Choose Ohio First scholars from BGSU participated and were joined by other COF scholars and administrators from all across the state. (Pictured with Chancellor Randy Gardner at the Showcase are Kati Solymosi, Nichole Wente, Ashtyn Gill, Katelyn Niehaus, MacKenna Whitacre and Emma Zesing)

First Year Research Projects
Cohort 11 freshman scholars continue to work closely with faculty mentors this semester to finalize their science and/or mathematical research. Two of the research groups were mentioned in our October letter, and now members of the remaining three first-year research groups give details of their projects. 
Anabel Alexander, Dorie Nickell, Haley Shedden, Amanda Ulery and Katelyn Whetsel are using selection techniques for antibiotic resistance as Dr. Larsen’s group has been isolating and characterizing bacteria from common environmental sources. Bacterial strains thus selected have been subjected to a variety of molecular biology techniques to isolate genes involved in drug resistance. The DNA sequences of these genes are being determined and the group is using computer-based analyses to determine the evolutionary origins and relations of these genes.
Dr. Meel’s research group has been designing, testing and evaluating a mathematically-based scavenger hunt in a virtual world. The group has been exploring significant mathematics to be highlighted while searching for elements in the virtual world that can be used to represent those concepts. Additionally, the group has been building instructional materials to explain complex mathematical content to the average person and designing evaluation tools to analyze their work. (You may not recognize them from their photo on the right in the virtual world – this group is made up of Gracie Chamberlain, Kayleigh Hill, Logan Simpkins and Lauren Tecca.)

The Haney ACTION Research Group (HARG 20) includes six ACTION students (Zoey Berger, Alyson Blunk, Allison Cheek, Brice Ferguson, Jared Flewelling, and Adrienne McGaha.) They are working on a study to identify BGSU’s hottest (and coolest) places on campus. Based on their findings, the group will write and submit a BGSU campus sustainability grant application this spring requesting funds to mitigate our urban heat.
Incoming Freshmen - Cohort 12

The new incoming freshmen Cohort 12 group is starting to form as prospective BGSU students are accepting our offer to participate beginning with Summer Bridge this July. We have no doubt this new group of scholars will be a wonderful addition to our current ACTION family.
Upcoming ACTION Events
ACTION Spring Seminar - March 3
Student Advisory Board Meeting - March 10
Practicum Presentations - March 24
ACTION Day of Service - April 14
COF Research Symposium at BGSU - Friday, April 24
ACTION Capstone Colloquium - May 5

To find out more specific details about what is happening in March, click on the image of the calendar.
As a Choose Ohio First grant program sponsored by the Ohio Department of Higher Education, our goal is to produce exceptional science and mathematics teachers who will impact the next generation across the state to improve STEM areas.
Science and Math Education in ACTION
Director: Dr. Daniel Brahier
Program Manager: Wendy Standinger
Program Secretary: Cindy Fuller
Phone 419.372.6561