Professors aim for higher-ed inspiration
Flathead High School students including Katie Waller, Jeffrey McCormick, Jackson Stiffler, Connor Tice and Abby Foley listen to Montana State University physics professor Greg Francis on Tuesday. The action-packed physics overview included demonstrations of liquid nitrogen as well as Francis lying down on a bed of nails and having a cement block on his chest smashed with a sledgehammer. Karen Nichols/Daily Inter Lake
By KRISTI ALBERTSON/Daily Inter Lake
College isn't just for the kids at the head of the class.
That's the message the organizers behind MSU for a Day hope high school students will receive. The Montana State University outreach program brings college professors to high schools around the state, allowing secondary students the chance to experience university-level classes.
Fifteen Montana State professors taught classes in several local high schools this week. They visited Flathead High School on Tuesday.
"I thought it was a neat experience for our students," Principal Peter Fusaro said. "The kids get a little bit different view with different instructors. It's a win-win for our students and MSU."
The program's goal isn't to recruit students to Montana State, but to encourage more people to consider attending college after graduation, MSU President Geoff Gamble said.
Top students likely already know they're going to college, he said. But other students might plan on joining the work force instead of considering attending a four-year, two-year or vocational-technical school.
Those students "might not see the value of going to college," Gamble said. "They can find pretty good-paying jobs" right after high school.
The trade-offs can be complicated, he added. A good job right after graduation might allow someone to buy a nice vehicle, but that person's lifetime earning potential isn't as high as someone with a college degree.
A person with a bachelor's degree will earn on average nearly double what a high-school graduate will make over the course of a lifetime, according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics.
Most Flathead High School students do pursue some higher education, Fusaro said. More than half of last year's seniors planned to attend a four-year college this fall. Another 21 percent planned to attend a two-year college after graduation, and 7 percent said they were going to a vocational or technical school.
Those numbers are typical of most Flathead graduating classes, Fusaro said.
Of the Flathead alumni who attend four-year colleges, about 18 percent choose in-state schools. The majority of those go to Montana State, according to DeAnn Thomas, director of the Flathead and Glacier high school career centers.
From the class of 2007, the most recent year for which Thomas has statistics, 59 of 594 graduates went to Montana State in Bozeman. Another two went to MSU-Northern in Havre.
Thirty-five graduates went to the University of Montana in Missoula last fall. Seven went to UM-Western in Dillon and two attended Montana Tech at Butte.
Whether students choose Montana colleges or out-of-state schools, MSU for a Day encourages them to consider continuing their educations beyond college.
"It's an opportunity for them to promote kids to go on to higher learning," Fusaro said. "That's something we're always promoting.
"It stimulates interest and [says], 'Here's some things to think about when you're going through school.'"
Some guest lecturers, such as astrophysicist Neil Cornish, simply encourage students to think. His presentation on "Life, the Universe and Everything" discussed the origins of life and the universe, and gave Flathead teachers and students alike food for thought.
"He was outstanding," Fusaro said. "It left you really thinking."
Other MSU professors used props to spark students' interest. Greg Francis incorporated a bed of nails and liquid nitrogen into his physics presentation.
Event organizers hope the lively and thought-provoking presentations will help more students discover that college classes are accessible and enjoyable for more than just the top kids in class.
"We hope they can inspire kids," Gamble said.
The program, which is in its eighth year, targets high school students now but may in the future aim for younger students, he said. Professors have talked with middle school students and may do more junior high outreach.
It's important to connect with students before they've decided what to do after graduation, Gamble said.
"By senior year, it's probably too late," he said.
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