Students at Governor's School for Science and Math Study Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley
January 24, 2012
Students at Governor’s School for Science and Math Study Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley
COLUMBIA, SC – January 24, 2012 – Twelve students from the SouthCarolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM) traveledto Silicon Valley as part of January Interim, an innovativemini-mester opportunity to explore interests outside of theclassroom.
Beginning January 3, this Tech Trek was designed to showstudents how young entrepreneurs shape the economy. As part of theinterim course, students not only traveled to California, they studiedtheir hometowns and the entrepreneurs who influenced local economicgrowth. Visiting companies like Facebook, Google, Dropbox, Intel andApple, students saw firsthand where nearly half of America’s venturecapital is invested.
The purpose of our trip was to expose students tothe highly unique environment of talent, technology, and capital inSilicon Valley and to bring them back to South Carolina with thisknowledge, says Robert Fletcher, director of the School’s BlueCrossBlueShield Economics and Finance Institute.
We need our students tolead a new generation of free enterprise in the Palmetto State.
T.J.Melanson of Hilton Head, GSSM junior and Tech Treker, says, After thistrip, I realize that out-of-state industries cannot alone be responsiblefor creating local jobs. South Carolina entrepreneurs must develop andbring capital into the state. I learned that in order to dramaticallyimpact South Carolina’s economy, capitalizing on budding technology isimperative.
Students were able to meet Dr. Charles Townes, Greenvillenative and Nobel Laureate in physics; and DuBose Montgomery, Hartsvillenative and founder of Menlo Ventures, a leading venture capital firm.Meetings with GSSM alumni were also on the agenda. Students met ToddEisenberger of Dropbox, GSSM Class of 2008 and originally from MyrtleBeach, and Cooper Bethea of Foursquare, GSSM class of 1998 andoriginally from Dillon.
This unique trip, along with the other Januarycourse offerings, served as a break from routine designed to engage andinspire students with enlightening educational experiences.
On theTech Trek, students learned about dreaming big and following theirpassions to improve our world, says Fletcher. GSSM aims to be atransformational school–to help develop and enhance each student’s pathto success and to help grow the economy of South Carolina.
About The South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics
The South Carolina Governor’s School for Science andMathematics (GSSM) is a two-year, public, residential high school inHartsville, SC, specializing in the advanced study of science,technology, engineering and math (STEM), with a unique emphasis oneconomics and entrepreneurship.GSSM can serve as many as 300 high schooljuniors and seniors annually from across the state. In addition, theschool impacts more than 24,000 teachers and students each year throughits innovative outreach programs. Newsweek and The Washington Postconsistently rank GSSM among the Top 20 public elite high schools inthe nation.
In March 2011, GSSM launched the Wave Campaign to buildawareness, energy and momentum around the study of STEM. GSSM iscommitted to helping bridge the achievement gap for our low achievers,providing game-changing opportunities to our high achievers and buildinga stronger workforce, ultimately impacting economic development. GSSMis asking that all South Carolinians Do the Wave in support of STEMeducation. Support can be shown by flying the icon for the campaign, theflag, either at your home, business or on Facebook. Learn more andstart waving by visiting www.scgssm.org or www.dothewavesc.com.
