Open registration for NMC free virtual summer math program

Summertime can be filled with many learning opportunities. For math lovers, you just might be interested in what the Northern Marianas College University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities has to offer.

In partnership with the University of Hawaii Center on Disability Studies, NMC UCEDD is pleased to offer middle school students with an opportunity to participate in a virtual math program. Known as Project BEAM—“Be a Mathematician”—the summer math camp offers hands-on math activities, real-world applications, project development, and distance learning. Students who will be entering the 7th and 8th grades in the upcoming school year and who have earned an “A” or “B” grade in their previous math class are eligible to apply.

In order to participate in the program, students must have a laptop or tablet as well as access to the Internet. Other than that, the Project BEAM summer math camp is free of charge and open to junior high students in Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

The math camp program is scheduled to run from July 20 to August 7, 2020, from 9am to 12:30pm. This is a three-week program from Monday through Friday. As space is limited, early registration is encouraged. To register, contact Arlene Yamagata at arlene.yamagata@marianas.edu or call (670) 234-5498 Ext. 6808. Registration will end on June 29, 2020.

Priority may be given to middle school students from the following targeted ethnic groups: Hispanic/Latino, native American, Filipino, native Hawaiian or Pacific Islanders.

This summer’s Project BEAM mentors are Dr. Dora Miura and Vina Duenas. Miura is a veteran educator having taught for 24 years with 13 years dedicated to math. She is a math mentor for math teachers in the CNMI as well as a recipient of the 2016 CNMI State Teacher of the Year and 2015 Presidential Award Winner for Math and Science Teaching. Duenas received her bachelor’s degree in Secondary Mathematics Education from Kennesaw State University in Georgia. She began her teaching career in 2015 at Saipan Southern High School teaching various math subjects.

Project BEAM is a five-year project funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Education Program. The purpose of this project is to promote STEM participation of middle school students within the targeted ethnic groups in improving their math skills and accomplishments.

For more information, visit www.marianas.edu or email cnmi.ucedd@marianas.edu. (PR)