STARBASE launches student's interest in math, science

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Tammie Moore
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  After spending a week immersed in the technical and flashy sides of math and science, a group of 60 area students became the 19th class to graduate the base's Science and Technology Academies Reinforcing Basic Aviation and Space Exploration program June 25.

The fifth graders who participated in the program spent their mornings in a classroom studying topics like Bernoulli's principles of flight and Newton's laws of motion. In the afternoon, they traveled to Seymour Johnson AFB to see the topics they learned in action.

"The program is successful because it is structured and crammed full of activities, yet it is fun," said Janie Best, 4th Force Support Squadron Force Development chief. "Students do so many hands-on activities that they do not have time to get bored. The classroom learning is much more effective when the students are able to see the principles they've studied applied to the day-to-day operations of Seymour Johnson AFB."

Mrs. Best, the base's STARBASE liaison, received an overwhelmingly positive response from students who participated in the program.

"I've received lots of 'thank yous' both in person and written notes," she said. "The students loved the program especially the tours on base. They were anxious to show off what they had learned during the week. These comments from kids definitely make this program worthwhile."

She has also received positive feedback about the program from several parents.

"One of the parents e-mailed me and told me how much they appreciated their child having the opportunity to participate in STARBASE," Mrs. Best said. "The mother said her son spent the majority of this past weekend building and test flying his own paper airplanes. It really makes me feel good to know we have peaked their curiosity and motivated them to inquire more about flight and the Air Force. These kids are tomorrow's leaders and hopefully we instilled a bit of pride and patriotism in them."

For the DeFazio family, STARBASE is much more than a week-long summer program, it is a family tradition. Leigh DeFazio's mother was one of the original STARBASE math and science teachers in 1990. Three years later, Mrs. DeFazio followed in her footsteps and, as fate would have it, ended up meeting her husband through the program. Years later their daughter, Ali, and son, Michael, graduated from the program.

"We promised our youngest son, Dominick, that no matter where we lived, we would try very hard to get him back to North Carolina so he could be in STARBASE," Mrs. DeFazio said.

Despite being having conducted a permanent change of station move to Europe, where Col. Alex DeFazio became a student in the Senior Service School at the Belgium Royal Defense College, the family kept their promise.

"Having our children attend STARBASE was important to us for two reasons," Mrs. DeFazio said. "First, we think that around the age of 10 a child begins to think about what they want to be when they grow up. It's about the time (my husband) decided he wanted to attend the Air Force Academy and one day he hoped to fly jets in the Air Force. Our kids don't have to follow in his footsteps, but we want them to know math and science are an important part of their futures and that learning can be fun.

"The second reason we wanted to come back for our youngest to attend STARBASE is because it's here in Goldsboro," she said. "This community has been a special part of our family and (my husband's) career. STARBASE is another example of how the local Goldsboro community and Seymour Johnson AFB work together. Goldsboro is an amazing city that supports the Airman of Seymour Johnson in a way that no other town in America does. We are so fortunate to have that kind of partnership!"

During the STARBASE graduation ceremony the teachers thanked parents for letting their children participate. Mrs. Best and the teachers also expressed their appreciation for the Seymour Johnson community for making the program possible.

"There are so many volunteers on base with just about every organization involved in the program that I want to express my thanks to the entire wing including the 916th (Air Reserve Wing)," Mrs. Best said. "Two people who spent the most time with the kids were the bus drivers, Staff Sgt. Jason Ratliff and Senior Airman Ashley Harris, and the teachers said both of them were excellent!"

The enrollment period for STARBASE runs from February to March; however, the STARBASE directors keep a waiting list from year to year. Mrs. Best the base's program recruiter can assist those interested in placing their child on the waiting list. For more information, call her at 722-5810.