UWG News Archive

Students gain experience in SRAP Program

March 18, 2005

CARROLLTON, GA - “There’s never a dull moment. It’s nothing I expected, but I am having the experience of a lifetime.” University of West Georgia student Aiesha Bridges is not talking about working as a scuba diving instructor or as a Congressional aide. Bridges is referring to her job at the West Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center (WGYSTC), where she facilitates science labs for 4th and 5th graders at Carrollton Elementary School.

Bridges is just one participant in the Student Research Assistant Program (SRAP). SRAP is designed to match students with on-campus jobs that apply to their particular major. Bridges is a biology major from Riverdale gaining hands-on experience through her job at the WGYSTC.

Kathy White, regional coordinator of the WGYSTC, is involved with several area schools and knew that Carrollton Elementary School had an opening for a lab instructor. The school had a room for science labs, but teachers found it hard to fit the labs into their curriculum. White “connected the dots” when Bridges contacted her about a job and Bridges’ lab series, “Adventures in Science,” was created.

White believes that the SRAP program benefits both students and faculty at UWG.

“The program has helped gain more publicity for WGYSTC and we are able to reach more students. It’s a win-win situation,” said White.

LaQuetta Flucker, a pre-med student from Snellville, is also acquiring hands-on experience through the SRAP program at the WGYSTC. Flucker formulated a total of 450 questions for the first middle grades science bowl in the state. The science bowl featured nine teams and was held at the Education Center earlier this year.

Flucker commented that the science bowl developed her personal skills such as patience, perseverance and endurance. She also became very knowledgeable about science and math curriculum during the process.

“The science bowl was a learning experience. I can definitely use this experience elsewhere,” said Flucker.

For more information about the SRAP program, contact Audrey Baird in Career Services at 678-839-6431, or go to the website at http://careerweb.westga.edu/.

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