Today we’d like to introduce you to STARBASE Hill.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
STARBASE is a Department of Defense (DoD) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program (STEM) for youth. Its beginnings hail back to 1989. However, it began as a government-funded program back in 1993 as DoD STARBASE.
The teacher who blasted the program off to the success it enjoys today started in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. The teacher, Barbara Koscak, believed her students deserved more from science and technology than, at that time, given by the State and National standards. She partnered with Selfridge Air Force Base to create an extensive hands-on, minds-on program for her students, utilizing the highly-technical resources of the Air Force. To her, this match was obvious and the benefits for her students were impeccable. Her students, not only enjoyed the advancements in science and technology, but became enthralled with the living definitions of these words as seen through the individuals, processes and equipment of a fully operational Air Force base.
Another gain of this newly fashioned program came as the Airmen on the base immersed the students into their culture as a branch of military service. Students became better acquainted with the responsibilities of a military member and quickly set aside the often embellished scenarios presented by popular television shows or movies. Greater respect and understanding toward the sacrifices for our freedoms made by the military men and women flooded over each of her students.
With students becoming more enthused over STEM opportunities that continually surround them and familiar with the important purposes of this nation’s military, the United States’ House and Senate established DoD STARBASE as a nationwide program in 1993. Many states quickly jumped into action by instituting a STARBASE program within their borders. Then, in 2011, thanks to Mrs. Judith Maughn, an Education Outreach Representative for Hill Air Force Base who completed the necessary grant and application packages, STARBASE Hill opened its doors to the students of Northern Utah.
Many updates and changes have taken place since the beginning of STARBASE Hill. With the recent installment of STARBASE Hill 2.0 and a third operational classroom, almost 3,000 students between the 5th and 8th grades gain the hands-on, minds-on STEM experience, as well as the military immersion. Our faculty of 15 loves to engage constantly with students on the phenomena encountered in each of our classes. We strive for the thrill of the “light bulb going off” in the students’ mind within a fun and educational environment. As one of our visiting teachers from a surrounding district stated, “You guys are so amazing. I’m so grateful I had an opportunity to attend this fabulous program. My students are more excited about my science class after attending STARBASE (Hill). Thanks for your dedication for this program and the love of learning you have brought to my class. I had a student literally crying hysterically when I reminded them this week was our last at STARBASE (Hill). This is the impact you had on our students. Thanks!”
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As with any other venture in education, bumps in the road come and must be overcome. From difficult individuals in administration to a lack of personnel, STARBASE Hill has overcome challenges in order to be successful in its mission. The schools located in the districts we service experience similar challenges, but the importance of making education effective and enjoyable does not just stop. Through training, team-building activities and the mantra, “this is for the kids”, we defeat these unfortunate situations attempting to dull our enthusiasm or block our fervor to improve.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At STARBASE Hill, we engage the students in topics like Chemistry, Physics, Robotics, Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Engineering. This becomes very tricky as we have the students for only five of their school days and need to correlate as much as possible with Utah’s science standards known as SEEd (Science and Engineering Education). Think about the multitude of times teenagers have complained about the smothering, boredom avalanche faced daily in some of their STEM subjects in junior high and high school. This is the antithesis of our daily engagements with students. At STARBASE Hill, we continually flex our creative minds to enhance our delivery for each class. Engagement weighs heavily as ultimately we want each student to develop their knowledge base of the phenomena through their personal abilities, not us telling them what they should or should not understand. Each student interprets, rearranges and digests every bit of information differently, so to keep them engaged, so as to experience the phenomena, becomes vital. Therefore, if we need to invent another activity, create a cheer, or adjust the flow for the lesson to keep students engaged, consider it done.
This makes our operation so different and, quite honestly, so thrilling. Our faculty must obviously be creative, however, they also need the ability to gauge the learning potential of a student or class, and possess the flexibility to learn and deliver changes to a presentation. The amazing ability of our instructors to accomplish this feat makes the program so well received and desired by so many different schools in the districts surrounding Hill Air Force Base.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Located on Hill Air Force Base, STARBASE Hill utilizes many of the resources found right on the base. Often participating schools have guest speakers or trips to locations on base. This aspect of our successful program would flop without the support from the personnel of Hill Air Force Base. For instance, STARBASE Hill just started serving the Salt Lake City School District during this current school year. Many of these students have never visited Hill Air Force Base or even seen the F35 jets flying. When they think of jets, immediately their mind goes to the airliners they often see from Salt Lake City International Airport located close to their homes. Once on Hill Air Force Base, their amazement toward the jets, Airmen, and other resources emanates continually through their visit. We have had the F35 Demonstration Team come and speak to the students explaining their incredible mission. These individuals and their stories are experiences with lore for these students. Without the support from the base resources and personnel, the mission of STARBASE Hill would be much more difficult.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.starbasehill.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbasehillutah/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbasehillutah
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/starbasehillutah
