RIT to host subregional competition of Junior Science and Humanities Symposium

Anthony Bisulco is an alumnus of the Army Educational Outreach Program, having participated as a high school student in Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, also known as JSHS. Calling it a pathway toward more research, it helped provide him the skills and knowledge needed to continue learning various STEM disciplines, and a foundation for research as a college student and now professional.

Through AEOP, he was given the chance to share his JSHS journey to help inspire other students participate in the Department of Defense-sponsored program, and enhance student passions in science, technology, engineering and math.

“As a result of JSHS, I have been able to obtain a thirst for research and learning,” Bisulco said. “Throughout working on my JSHS project, I had hit many technical barriers. Each of the problems that I came to required lots of research and learning more to overcome the barrier. This process of learning new things to improve a field was what I knew I wanted to continue after JSHS.”

And he did.

This same experience is coming to Rochester Institute of Technology in January 2024 that will host the JSHS Central/Western New York Subregional contest where high school students are given the chance to present results of original research efforts before a panel of judges and an audience of their peers. At the end of the event, one participant will be selected for the New York State regional competition.

“It is a great opportunity for high school students to present all of the information they have learned, in front of an audience,” said Jane Amstey, senior director of precollege programs at RIT’s K-12 University Center. “Building public presentation skills with STEM information is beneficial in preparing for college and careers. They meet diverse youth with similar interests and passions for STEM. Students build confidence, perseverance, knowledge and understanding, communication skills, mastery of subject matter, and a sense of accomplishment.”

JSHS is a national STEM program that encourages high school students to conduct original research, and publicly recognizes students for outstanding achievement. By connecting talented students, their teachers and research professionals at affiliated symposia, and by rewarding research excellence, it aims to widen the pool of trained talent prepared to conduct research and development vital to the nation. JSHS is sponsored by the DOD, and administered by the National Science Teaching Association in partnership with various defense STEM programs, including AEOP.

AEOP Apprenticeships and Fellowships is administered by RIT’s K-12 University Center on behalf of the U.S. Army to provide paid STEM research experiences for high school through postdoctoral individuals at Army labs and university partner sites across the country, working alongside professional researchers. It often leads to further education, scholarships and job opportunities. The K-12 center landed the contract to administer the program in 2016 through a connection from Executive Director Donna Burnette.

RIT K-12 creates transformative opportunities for youth and educators on science, technology, engineering, art and math to inspire, engage and prepare the next generation of innovators. Its newly opened Office of Precollege Programs fosters collaborations among the university, and K-12 schools, industry and communities to create high-quality education and workforce development experiences that will shape the game-changing, problem-solvers of the future.

With a mission to also work collaboratively with other RIT programming, the K-12 center led a Camp Tiger experience last summer that used JSHS curriculum, facilitated by AEOP Apprenticeships and Fellowships outreach specialists to expose local youth to the program. Camp Tiger staff, through RIT K-12, are also working to provide another similar camp again next summer using AEOP resources.