Nova (Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy)
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/ ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY • r'-^IIVI^A ^ Pioiwerini^ Ediicatioiml Coiiuminity Volume 12 No. I Fall- Winter 1997-98 IMSA Fund Receives $500,000 Gift from iViystery Alum his is just astounding." Michael In announcing the gift at the November others enjoy the same kind of opportuni- Birck told reporter Dan Ro/ek in 4 meeting of the IMSA Board of Trustees. ties for years to come. It is indeed a Chicago Sim-Times interview about Chairman Jack McEachern. president amazing that an IMSA grad — and. thus. the recent half-million dollar gift to the of Wayne Circuits Incorporated, said. IMSA itself — has done so well already." Academy by the anonymous alum. Birck. "... On behalf of the entire IMSA com- IMSA President Dr. Stephanie Pace president and CEO of Tellabs. Inc.. also is munity (I) want to thank the donor for this Marshall said the gift will be used to president of the IMSA Fund, the Academy's heartfelt and most generous investment establish a permanent endowment. The not-for-profit corporation charged with in IMSAs future." endowment earnings will support IMSA securing private sector support. Following the announcement, news of programs that advance mentorship and Birck. like other officials of the Fund, the donation spread quickly and IMSA research opportunities for IMSA students thought it would take as long as 30 years fielded many calls from Chicago reporters and programs that support the Academy's before graduates would be able to make clammering to obtain an interview with professional development initiatives for a donation of this magnitude. IMSA's the anonymous donor. In a weekly editor- mathematics and science teachers charter class graduated in 1989. placing ial column entitled "Bows" and 'Arrows" throughout Illinois. most of its alums still in their twenties. published by the Aurora Beacon-News. (See Related Slon- on Page 4\ In making the donation to the IMSA editors wrote "Give this shining donor a Fund, the young alum, who wished to selfless BOW for trying to ensure that remain anonymous, said "IMSA has con- tributed greatly to my success, and this gift is made to contribute back to IMSA's success." James Burke The contribution is the largest one from Speaks at IMSA an alumnus and one of the largest pri\ate gifts in IMSA's history. "This gift repre- Best selling author, award-winning writer- sents a major boost to the IMSA Fund's producer and science historian James Burke philanthropic efforts and is a strong presented the Seventh Annual James R. endorsement of the quality of work Tliompson Leadership Lecture at being done at the Academy." said Birck. IMSA on Friday. November 2 More than 1 .400 people filled IMSA's gymnasium to hear Burke's presentation. SIDE "Mechanisms of Change Lemons Whistle?" Alumni Contributions 4 Do (see more on page 5) Bell & Howell/Pearson Dedications 6 Ethics Project 3 Guest Letter 2 News in Brief 7 Service Programs 8 Photo bv Rrch Malec Thompson Lecture 5 r^lMSA Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy From the IMSA Fund 1500 West Sullivan Road Aurora. Illinois 60506-1000 630/907-5000 Board President BOARD OF TRUSTEES Ctiairman John H. McEachem Jr. President Wayne Circuits Incorporated Dear Shareholders, Vice Chairman IMSA Dr. Leon Lederman, Nobel Laureate Director Emeritus Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory am pleased to report another exciting and productive fall as IMSA blazes more new Pritzker Professor of Science trails into its second decade. And what better way to end 1997 than with a gift of Illinois Institute of Technology I TVustees $500,000 from a young IMSA alumnus? G. Carl Ball The young philanthropist, who wishes to remain anonymous, stated a desire "to Chairman of the Board George J. Ball, Incorporated ensure that other students have similar opportunities as I had in the years to come." Dr. Joseph Cipfl The gift represents IMSA"s largest gift from an alumnus and one of the largest private Executive Director in history. Illinois Community College Board gifts the schooFs As president of the IMSA Fund, the Academy's not-for-profit corporation charged Fred Conforti President and Chief Executive Officer with securing private sector support, I did not expect news of this kind so early in Pittway Systems Technology Group IMSA's history. The gift is a major boost to the IMSA Fund's philanthropic efforts and Dr. Sherry R. Eagle Superintendent a strong endorsement of the quality of work being done at the Academy. As president Aurora West School District #129 and CEO of Tellabs, Inc., a company with a strong technology orientation. I under- Dr. Forest Etheredge stand the critical need for increased emphasis on proficiency in mathematics and the Retired State Senator Instructor, Aurora University sciences. Strategic relationships between the education community, private industry Sheila MB Griffin and government are essential to creating new learning enterprises for the 2 1 st Century Director of Applied Market Research learner. The goal is new teaching and learning processes. The result will be a more Motorola Consumer Business Office Motorola Incorporated competitive state and nation. Dr. David Mintzer Another significant recent event is the opening of the Center for Collaborative Professor of Mechanical Engineering. will Physics and Astronomy Inquiry in Mathematics and Science (CCIMS) at IMSA. The CCIMS engage University Northwestern teachers throughout the state in the important work of transforming mathematics and Dr. Sally Pancrazio science teaching and learning in their respective settings. Look for stories about the Dean. College of Education Illinois State University Center and the Illinois Transformation Initiative, an important public policy initiative, James D. Pearson in future NOVAs. President 1 am proud to be a part of the IMSA learning enterprise and want to thank you, Aurora Metals Division L.L.C. our shareholders in the public and private sectors, for supporting our work. Christina M. Roy Mathematics Faculty On behalf of IMSA, best wishes for the holidays and new year! Parkland Community College Jesus Manuel Sosa Sincerely. Assistant Principal John F. Kennedy High School. Chicago Dr. Joseph A. Spagnolo State Superintendent Illinois State Board of Education J. Birck Dr. Richard Wagner Michael Executive Director President. IMSA Fund Board of Directors Illinois Board of Higher Education President Dr. Stephanie Pace Marshall NOVA is pubUshed three times a year by the IMSA Office of Institutional Advancement and Public Policy Located in Aurora. IMSA is a learning enterprise that builds the capacity of students, teachers and policymakers to improve and transform mathematics and science teaching and learning. IMSA 's residential educational program ser\'es Illinois students (grades 10-12) talented in mathematics and science: its professional de\'elopment Centers (mathematics and science, problem- based learning) sene schools, educational systems, teachers and students in Illinois and beyond. Ethics in Science and Humanities Project: 'The Chance to Change the World" By Arati Shroff, Student Writer In July of 1997. eight IMSA students and tivo facult}' members traveled to Jerusalem to help develop an ethics in science and humanities curriculum for use by sec- ondary schools worldwide. Ten schools from throughout the world (three from the U.S.) were invited to be a part of this project sponsored by The Societ}- for Excellence Through Education. The sum- mer conference was hosted by the Israel Arts and Science Academy. The IMSA delegation 's trip was supported by The Harris Family Foundation, a major investor-partner in IMSA's Center for Problem-based Learning. IMSA Student Aniti Shroff Ikfl) of Lihcrtwillc -.hnuh m the top if Masada. an old Jewish fortress, with her conference roommates. Clare bamet {center j and Daine Sutler frit^hl). students at the Methodist Ladies' College in Victoria. Australia. Sitting on a kibbutz outside of Jerusalem. Israel, with a Jordanian. attempting to define the words "science" One week after I returned from Israel. Israeli. Cypriote. Canadian and Australian, and "humanities" made me realize that I read about the suicide bombing that had singing and discussing politics. I couldn't there is no universal, specific definition for taken place in Ben Yehuda Market. I was imagine myself being anywhere else in what is scientific and what is humanisfic. shocked as I knew people who could the world at that moment. We brainstormed different methods on have been hurt by this event. Only days Ten schools had come together at the how to include ethics in a curriculum and before. I was standing in that market, Israel Arts and Science Academy for two what bairiers we would face within our touching the silk clothes and bargaining weeks to create a unique global ethics own schools and communities. An acdvity for cookies. It was strange to think how curriculum. As one of eight students from with an element of a moral dilemma the whole time we were in Israel, there IMSA to participate in this extraordinary would be designed and then we would was not a single problem with safety or workshop. I felt that for the first time 1 actually conduct the activity. Many times security, yet now. once again. Israel was a was being given the chance to change the it was frustrating as we would wrestle with country torn apart by strife and conflict. world. Here I was. a high school student, an issue and realize there is no one "right" I hope that we can help our own IMSA doing what I had only imagined myself or "wrong" answer to ethical dilemmas. community and the communities around doing 20 years from now as an ambas- All of us learned not to put aside our us by making others aware of the role and sador or representative of the United differences, but to expand and flourish in importance of ethics, ethical questions States.