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| STARBASE began in 1989 when Barbara Koscak, a Michigan
elementary school teacher shared her dream of an innovative educational program
with Brigadier General David Arendts, USAF (ret.), who was then the commander
of the 127th Fighter Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Brigadier
General Arendts embraced the idea and gave his full support for the creation of
the project. Rico Racosky, an accomplished pilot and author; Rick Simms, a
local university student; and individuals at the Mount Clemens School District
came on board to complete the development team. Their mission was to create an
educational program, which would respond to the needs of today's youth through
stimulating hands-on activities focusing on science, math, technology, personal
development, and drug awareness and prevention. |
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| The dream became a reality in 1991 with an
initial grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The response to and results of
the pilot program were exceptionally impressive. In the spring of 1992, U.S.
Senators Carl Levin (MI) and Sam Nunn (GA), responding to a letter of support
from then Chief of the National Guard Bureau, Lieutenant General John Conaway
(ret.), presented the program to Congress for funding under the Department of
Defense (DoD) budget. And in 1993, Congress allocated funds for seven STARBASE
Academies across the nation. |
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| The STARBASE program has grown
to over 50 Academies serving nearly a thousand schools and over 50,000 students annually and
operating on military installations in most of the states, the District of Columbia, and
Puerto Rico. In addition, it provides programs to American Indians in South Dakota, Mississippi, and Oklahoma as part of DoD's outreach
initiative. DoD focuses the program on those students who are most in need of
the program's ability to upgrade their skills in math and science. Particular
emphasis is placed on the 5th grade and on those classes that have students who
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- Historically under-represented in math, science,
and technology
- Living in inner cities or rural locations
- Disabled
- Socio-economically disadvantaged
- Low in academic performance
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| The resources available allow for varied and
exciting platforms for the STARBASE curriculum, giving students a new
perception of math, science, and technology; the techniques for development of
positive self-esteem; and answers to why and how to avoid substance abuse. The
entire class attends the program from the participant schools and children are
transported to the military base for four or five days of STARBASE instruction.
Trained and experienced teachers, along with military personnel, make learning
fun and relevant. Students are encouraged to explore and discover in an
environment that builds individual strengths as well as cooperative group skills. |
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