Inspiring Minds Honors 9 RI High School Students

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Thursday, June 16, 2011

GoLocalProv Features Team

Nine outstanding Providence public high school students will be honored by Inspiring Minds (formerly named Volunteers In Providence Schools or ‘VIPS’) at a ceremony and open house tonight, Thursday evening, June 16.

Of the nearly 170 students who attended Inspiring Minds after-school Tech Center during the 2010/2011 school year, approximately 30 are graduating seniors.

During the open house, students will demonstrate some of the projects they worked on such as a student-assembled PC and mouse-robot. A student created on-line magazine will be on display, and teens will demonstrate how they use the Tech Center’s smart board.

Receiving awards at Inspiring Minds Awards Night and Open House

Outstanding Tutee: Kassandra Hiciano, Central Senior, going to CCRI
Outstanding ELL Student: Estephania Alvarez, 11th, Central High School
Outstanding Web Journalism Student: Nidia Dominguez and Alba Escelante, both Classical Seniors going to URI
Outstanding Web Designer: Albert Kashouh, 11th grade, Central
Outstanding Engineer for Mouse-bot: Nelson Decamps, 11th grade Central
Outstanding Engineer for Touch Sensitivity Projects: Matthew Phou, 9th grade Classical
Outstanding Engineer for “IM Space”: Weather Balloon Project, Daniel Matthews, 11th grade, Classical
Outstanding Student Council Member: Enrique Rodriguez (pictured above right), 12th grade Central, going to URI
Outstanding Student Council Member: Ian Rosales, 9th, Classical

Inspiring Minds’ Tech Center programs are innovative, extended-day initiatives designed to excite underserved Providence public middle and high school students in experiential Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs that offer multiple pathways to social and academic success. This program provides underserved students with hands-on activities that help them to think critically, improve their grades, and acquire interest and enthusiasm for professional occupations and the skills necessary to attain rewarding careers. Students, many of whom do not have access to computers at home, also attend the Center to get homework help from Inspiring Minds’ tutor mentors and take part in English learning classes and other enrichment programming.