2nd Grade Programming
I Know I Can!
All seven NCS elementary schools welcomed Denison football players for our annual “I Know I Can” event during the last week of September. Students were brimming with curiosity to learn about these young adults – and this process unfolds through an interview of scripted questions. In turn, the teammates do a fantastic job sharing the combination of learning, fun and discipline that it takes to be a successful college student-athlete.
Did we forget Reading Rocks at the Licking County Library? No – it’s simply been relocated on our yearly programming calendar. Our annual trek with all NCS second graders has been moved to the Spring and we’re hard at work to ensure these visits are engaging and informative. You can look forward to our recap of this programming in our Spring edition of Tassel Talk.
4th Grade Programming
College & Money Savvy Wildcats
4th grade classrooms were as enthusiastic as ever during our 7 weeks teaching College and Money Savvy Wildcats. From beginning to end, this curriculum is a pleasure to share with students. We encourage you to engage with your student about what they learned . . . how long does it take to earn an Associate’s Degree or a High Skills Certificate? Which company did their class choose to invest in: Apple, Nike or Disney?
After seven weeks studying one particular college, learning the 4 money management skills (save, spend, donate and invest) and practicing those all-important college going behaviors (homework, attendance, in-class work and reading) students are certified as “College and Money Savvy.” The final class visit also offers students the chance to draw a picture of themselves graduating from high school, in college or working in their future career.
6th Grade Programming
Kids2College & Campus Tours
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Back and better than ever were our 6th grade campus visits. Nine central Ohio colleges welcomed us to campus again this year for our annual capstone event, Kids to College. We hope by now your student has shared the excitement of this day with you. No stone is left unturned as we traverse campus through lecture halls, laboratories, performance theaters and recreation centers in an effort to assist students in realizing the many opportunities that can accompany a college experience.
The most exciting stop and student favorite? The dining hall! Many thanks to our college partners: Capital University, Central Ohio Technical College, Denison University, Kenyon College, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Ohio Dominican University, Ohio State University, Otterbein University and new this year, Muskingum University.
Andrew Saladino: Class of 2019
University of Michigan: Class of 2023
Major: Aerospace Engineering
Share a practice from high school that made going to college a reality. If you have any questions about the process of applying to college, when you should get started, what tests or applications you need to complete, etc., then just ask! Early in high school, I knew I wanted to go to college but was unsure if I was preparing correctly. By asking staff at A Call to College as well as teachers I trusted, I was able to gauge my progress and stay ahead of the curve. Figuring out what steps you need to take is the first step toward any achievement.
What suggestions would you give to current Wildcats and their families to prepare financially for college? Many of the costs associated with college won’t be included in the tuition figure you’ll see after googling the school you’re looking at. Housing and eating out, as well as gas and parking if you must have a car, can add a sizable amount to your expenses. This is why it’s important to get scholarships if you can! The better your grades are in high school, the more merit-based aid you’ll generally receive, but every college will offer need-based scholarships as well. A Call to College offers their own scholarships (the Last Dollar Grant, which I received). So during your senior year, apply to as many of these as possible!
Lastly, I would generally encourage you to attend a school that gives you a reasonable amount of financial aid if you have options. Picking your second-choice school if it pays for half of your tuition is almost always a better option than going with your dream school if it doesn’t offer you any aid. I can guarantee that the quality of your college experience will be more determined by what you make of it than by which school you pick, so it’s smart to make the wise financial choice.
Please share your favorite academic moment from University of Michigan. For my senior capstone project, I worked in a team of three students to design, build and test a small Hall thruster. It took all semester for us to put together the design, run simulations, source the parts, and actually assemble the thruster. We finally completed the thruster and were able to test it in a vacuum chamber in May, after the semester was over. When I saw the thruster light give off its trademark purple glow, I felt an incredible sense of accomplishment. That experience was a worthy capstone to my undergraduate experience at Michigan.
Have you had any special experiences as part of your major, like travel or an internship? During the summer of 2022, I completed an internship at the Plasmadynamics and Electric Propulsion Laboratory (PEPL) here at U of M, where I worked on repairing a Hall thruster (a type of electric spacecraft thruster). It was great to apply the skills I had learned through my coursework in a practical setting and also to get experience working with high-pressure gas and vacuum systems, which I had never worked with in my classes.
Are you currently working? If so, what is your job? I’m still attending the University of Michigan as a master’s student, but I’m working two part-time jobs. I work as an Administrative Assistant for the Prison Creative Arts Project (PCAP), an organization that runs exhibitions, workshops, and a literary journal featuring artwork and literature from incarcerated people in Michigan. I also proctor exams for the Physics department.
Where do you see yourself in the next five years? In five years, I see myself working with spacecraft propulsion systems (chemical or electric rockets, or if I’m able, nuclear rockets) at either NASA or a private “new space” company. I’m also hoping to be able to travel more often than I currently do once I’m working full-time and have the means to do so. I’ve developed a love for backpacking during the past few years and would love to explore the hobby more.
Share a favorite NHS memory. When I ran cross country at NHS, we used to go on overnight trips to Canton where we would stay in a hotel and run in the Dave Clegg Invitational the next morning. We used to go to Olive Garden to load up on carbs the night before the race. Upon returning to the hotel, we would swim in the pool and then play games in the hotel rooms which was always a good time.