A group of Oktibbeha County high school students is using the Internet resources at Mississippi State University to explore both future colleges and potential careers.
Katherine Steel-Hendrick's algebra II and advanced mathematics classes from Alexander Attendance Center are using the National Science Foundation's Engineering Research Center computer resources to access the Internet's World Wide Web.
Kasonya T. Lampkin of Starkville, a graduate student in secondary mathematics education, supervises the sophomore-through-senior students.
"The students are searching the web for information on colleges and universities where they might pursue degrees," Lampkin said. "And, they are working on an electronic mail survey with their keypals--a pre-calculus class in Hilton (N.Y.) High School and algebra II and advanced placement calculus classes in Milton (Wisc.) High School."
The students are compiling data on possible career choices and the range of salaries they can expect in those fields.
"I want them to find out if their expectations are realistic," Lampkin said. "If they plan on making, say, $50,000 a year, I want them to see what it would take to make that and see the relevance of going to college."
Once all the information is gathered and interpreted, Alexander students will post their results on the ERC web page http://www.msstate.edu/education/hs_outreach_intro.html at the end of the 1997 spring semester.
In addition to Lampkin's help, three other Mississippi State students are mentoring the high schoolers during their visits to the ERC. They are Christine Cuicchi of Starkville, a graduate student in computational engineering; Christin N. McCloskey of Columbus, an electrical engineering major; and Sujay Shaunak of Starkville, a graduate student in computer engineering.