Governor's School for Science & Math Announces Technology-based Summer Camp

COLUMBIA, SC & BERKELEY COUNTY, SC April 29, 2009 – The South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM) Foundation is pleased to announce its relationship with Google and Berkeley County School District to pilot the Innovation, Technology & Entrepreneurship Among Middle Schoolers (iTEAMS) camp, a pioneering effort to build employability skills in tomorrow’s workforce.   
 
Forty rising eighth- and ninth-grade students from Berkeley County will participate in the one-week summer camp from June 22-26 at Berkeley Middle School. Free to its participants, iTEAMS will encourage and serve as a primer for students interested in pursuing studies and careers in computer science, engineering, programming and business. 
 
Employees from Google’s nearby data center in Goose Creek will be onsite daily to share information with campers on the entrepreneurial philosophies and overall vision of the dynamic Internet search company. They will also serve as mentors, introducing students to the company’s technical applications and assisting with the camp’s project-style format.  This program is an excellent opportunity for middle schoolers in Berkeley County to learn about technology and entrepreneurship from a sophisticated technology company like Google, said Dr. Murray Brockman, GSSM President.
 
It is important that young people are given the tools and the resources to enhance their science and math skills, said Jeff Stevenson, Google’s program manager at the Berkeley County data center. The iTEAMS camp will provide Berkeley County students who are showing an interest in computer science, technology or engineering with those skills, and the added benefit of being with other middle schoolers in a fun, nurturing environment.
 
The iTEAMS camp addresses Google’s focus on technology literacy and innovation as well as new economy entrepreneurship. The company’s community grant investment also works within GSSM Foundation’s mission to support the school as a resource of exemplary programs that improve and support the science and mathematics achievement of South Carolina students. 
 
The GSSM Foundation is proud and delighted to continue its relationship with Google, said Kim Bowman, executive director of the GSSM Foundation, who noted that eight of the school’s alumni are now Google employees. iTEAMS is aimed at inspiring young minds that will infuse the pipeline for South Carolina’s future technology and engineering needs.  
 
Archie Franchini, Berkeley County deputy superintendent for learning services, hopes that the iTEAMS camp will continue to highlight the school system’s involvement in providing fresh educational solutions.
 
This program will provide a stimulating learning environment for our students and teachers that will be both creative and innovative. It will be a win-win for all involved.  
 
The South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Math Foundation received a Google Community Grant of $31,054 from the Google Inc. Charitable Giving Fund at Tides Foundation. The Google Community Grant is being used to lead administrative efforts for the camp.
 

About GSSM
GSSM is a two-year, public, residential high school in Hartsville, S.C., specializing in the advanced study of science and mathematics. GSSM celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2008–09, having graduated more than 1,100 alumni from every county in South Carolina. Many are now leaders in such critical fields as engineering, medicine, education, law, science, technology, research and business. Our residential program serves 128 high school juniors and seniors a year with a concentrated study of science and math, alongside rigorous courses in the humanities, to prepare graduates to excel as leaders in the state’s 21st-century economy. Newsweek and The Washington Post have ranked GSSM among the Top 20 public elite high schools in the country.  Construction is under way on two new wings that will allow GSSM to more than double the size of its student body, expanding this unique learning program to even more of the state’s promising young minds.    

About Berkeley County School District
Serving more than 28,000 students in 37 schools, the Berkeley County School District has a solid reputation for quality facilities and strong academic programs. The District’s quest is led by unmatched administrators and teacher leaders. District schools boast challenging courses and co-curricular activities across all ability levels with emphasis on advanced technology, visual and performing arts, gifted and talented programs.