YHS holds science career conference

Yosemite High School

 

Career opportunities in physics, biology, chemistry and botany were presented to Yosemite High School students recently when the Oakhurst Sunrise Rotary Club sponsored a science‑career conference at the school for ninth‑ through 12th‑graders.

Students learned about such diverse career opportunities as designing roller coasters for Disney to working at a zoo specializing in bats.

The conference was coordinated by Stephanie Samuels, YHS career technician, and by the YHS science department.

Mrs. Samuels said the intent of the conference was to share career information, educational paths and opportunities for those who major in science.

“One of the goals of Yosemite High School is to connect more students to the community in meaningful ways,” Mrs. Samuels says. “Career conferences offer students a chance to see real applications for the classes they are taking.”

Mrs. Samuels is also setting up job shadowing and internships for interested students.

Anyone interested in participating in those programs can call her at the YHS Career Center, 683‑4667 extension 310.

 

Professionals donate time

Professional scientists donated their time to meet with the students and discuss their careers.

Maggie Elliot and Shane Ross told students about careers in physics. Mrs. Elliott worked for Disney Imagineering and was administrator to the team that designs roller coasters for Disney. Mr. Ross is a graduate student at California Institute of Technology [Cal Tech] doing research in celestial mechanics/chaos theory.

Five speakers talked about careers in biology. William Stolp is an environmental consultant who specializes in wetlands and tide pools. Laura Colton is a wildlife biologist for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Aimee Smith also works for CDF in wildlife biology and rangeland management.

Rob Tibstra works for the California Department of Fish and Game and specializes in aquatic resources [fisheries]. Burleigh Lockwood works for the Chaffee Zoo in Fresno, specializing in bats.

Three chemists were available to talk to the students. Joe Reeve teaches at the University of California at Los Angeles. He is a biochemist who works in biotechnology/peptide bonds. Zella Underhill is a consultant for DOW Chemical, working on reverse osmosis. Jarrad Wagner is head of the forensics department at California State University, Fresno.

The students also had an opportunity to hear Roy Thornton talk about botany. He is a professor in the Enology Department at CSUF where students learn to make wine.