May 18, 2001

Contact: John Gerdes (509-963-2811/fax 509-963-1050/email: gerdes@cwu.edu)

Ellensburg, WA - Have you ever wondered what exactly is in soda pop? A group of 18 Southridge High School (SHS) junior and senior organic biochemistry students found out today (Thursday, May 17), at Central Washington University. The Kennewick students visited campus under the "High School Science Post-Guest Visitation Program."

The program, now in its second year, is administered by Dr. John Gerdes, CWU chemistry professor, through a $100,000 grant from the Washington state Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB). "Southridge students were our 'test case' last year," Gerdes said.

For Southridge High teacher Kristi Privette, this was her second trip to CWU.

"Last year's group absolutely loved it and had a great time," she said. "John does a great job, he's very dynamic. So, we made sure to do it again this year."

The focus of the program is to bring students to the Ellensburg campus "to introduce them to scientific career options and to provide them with a one-day, comprehensive experience about the opportunities they could find here at Central, with chemistry serving as a vehicle," Gerdes said.

"We realize that many of these visiting students have never been on the campus of a four-year institution - ever," Gerdes added. "It's actually also the first time they've met college professors who actually do scientific experimentation."

Junior Annabelle Kliest said, "I want to go into the field of science, so getting an opportunity like this to see a real lab that's in a college is a neat thing."

While on the Ellensburg campus, the SHS students learned about the technique called nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).

"They used the chemistry analysis technique to understand the various components found in a variety of soft drinks," Gerdes pointed out. "Working in teams, they figured out what's in them, drew conclusions and presented their results. It's cutting edge science and it was a lot of fun for them. It also provides them data to consider as to whether they wish to drink soda pop!"

Junior Isaac Nelson said: "When I was reading through my dad's old chemistry book trying to write a paper I got an idea what NMR was, but being here in the classroom, getting to ask questions and seeing the experiment is clearing it up a lot. I have a much better idea about what we're doing."

Privette added, "The kids get to see the applications of chemistry and they get excited."

Junior Genelle Bullert said: "I didn't know we were going to actually be doing an experiment. That's pretty neat that we get this opportunity."

The Kennewick students also visited several other university departments, took part in a lunch, hosted by the chemistry department, where they visited with current CWU undergraduate and graduate students, took a walking tour of campus, and saw presentations made in conjunction with the university's annual "Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression" (SOURCE).

They also were able to learn how to access and use CWU's "science advising database" (www.cwu.edu/~chem/collab_site/advising1.htm) that permits all Washington state high school and college students to plan their academic careers amongst state-supported community college and four-year university institutions.

"Students can list what they want to be - chemist, biologist, pre-med, pre-vet - and what school they want to attend, and see what courses are required," Gerdes points out. "They can find out, if they start a scientific career at the community college level, how those courses would then transfer to one of the state's higher education institutions. It's a tremendous planning resource for prospective students."

Juniors from Wenatchee High School, on May 31, will also participate in the CWU visitation program. In addition, students from Ellensburg and Mansfield high schools, and junior high school students from the Renton School District came to campus earlier this year, Gerdes says.

"It's good for the kids to see a four-year university and what they might expect next year," Privette says. "They get a better understanding of what the university is and has to offer them."