Contentsthe BetA Group

state of steM in the Bahamas

our team

2014 BetAC experience

specific Learning outcomes

summary of Camp Details

summary of sponsorship options

Camp Agenda

summer Camp Budget

sponsorship options

Platinum/title sponsor

Gold sponsor

silver sponsor

Bronze sponsor

Panel sponsor

sponsor a student

In-Kind

Contact Information

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History

Bahamas Engineering and Technology Advancement (BETA) is the work of a consortium of Bahamian and Bahamian-American engineers, scientists

and technologists. These highly skilled professionals share a passion for using the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills they have

learned in their successful careers to help re-energize the Bahamas and provide opportunities for Bahamian youth.

The BETA team came together in March 2014 with a shared goal: to expose Bahamian students to STEM fields and instill in them the knowledge,

passion and drive to pursue careers within these growing and highly rewarding fields. After countless meetings, conference calls and emails, BETA

was founded.

Mission

The BETA team’s mission is simple: to use technical expertise to inspire and improve the Bahamas. Its leadership is comprised of Bahamian and

Bahamian-American engineers who envision the Bahamas Engineering and Technology Advancement Camp as the first in a series of collaborative

efforts to strengthen STEM education at the COB, create opportunities for engineers and address vital infrastructure issues on the island.

Vision

The need for improved STEM education is critical. In the BJC, we are seeing the consistent trend of more than half the students sitting these exams

are simply passing or failing. Furthermore, according to the 2013 BGCSE results, the average Bahamian student earned a D in General Science [4].

In mathematics, the average grade was an E. This unsettling trend continues for chemistry, physics, biology and combined science, where students

on average earned a C-, C-, D- and D+, respectively [4]. With such distressing figures, it’s not surprising that fewer than 14 percent of COB graduates

major in Science and Technology.

Bahamian students face an increasingly deprived technical and competitive job market. For the entire Bahamas the number of Bahamians employed

in manufacturing, communications, construction, utilities, agriculture and fisheries accounted for 27% of the labour force in 2008 and 24% in 2012

[5,6]. Hence, over the course of 4 years there has been a decline in the number of available jobs within technical fields. The need for STEM

professionals is great, as are the opportunities for the graduates equipped to enter these fields.

The BETA team is uniquely qualified to address this need. This eclectic group of highly skilled technical professionals is committed to teaching

students the fundamentals of engineering and expose them to the myriad ways STEM education can improve their lives.

With an eclectic team of engineers and technology professionals, BETA’s first initiative is the BetA Camp, or BetAC. This summer camp will bring

together students aged 11 to 14 to teach them the fundamentals of engineering disciplines and the impact that STEM has on the lives of Bahamians

the BetA Group

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state of steM in the BahamasThe Bahamas Junior Certificate (BJC) is an examination underwritten by junior high school students after having completed 3 years of study at the junior high school level. Such exams are meant to measure the scholastic aptitude of students and even more so mastery of the core curriculum subjects at the end of 3 years. These exams also serve as a segue for advancement to the 10th grade. However, the results obtained for BJC examinations in mathematics, general science, health science and technical drawing are paint a picture of a gloom and poignancy for the Bahamian education system. According to the 2011, 2012 and 2013 BJC results, the vast majority of students who sat the examinations for mathematics, general science and health science obtained grades of C – U. Specifically, 82%, 79% and 81% of students obtained grades of C and below in the Mathematics BJC in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively [1, 2, 3]. In general science, 74%, 78% and 73% of students obtained grades C and below. Additionally, in health science 75%, 77% and 77% of students obtained grades C and below [1, 2, 3].We believe that BETAC can help to provide students with a deeper understanding of mathematics and science. It is our goal to help students foster an appreciation and respect for mathematics and science that will change their standards of learning while in school throughout the academic year. In short, we believe our initiatives will help to improve the results of the BJC examinations in mathematics and science.

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[1] Department of Statistics of The Bahamas. Labor Market Information Newsletter (2011) 26(37). N. Retrieved from http://statistics.bahamas.gov.bs/download/006481900.pdf on 10 Jun. 2014.

[2] Department of Statistics of The Bahamas. Labor Market Information Newsletter (2012) 27(39). N. Retrieved from http://statistics.bahamas.gov.bs/download/012457100.pdf on 10 Jun 2014

[3[Department of Statistics of The Bahamas. Labor Market Information Newsletter (2013) 28(39). N. Retrieved from http://statistics.bahamas.gov.bs/download/012300100.pdf on 10 Jun 2014

[4] Thompson, Taneka. “National Exam Results Worsen” The Nassau Guardian. 16 Aug 2013.

Retrieved from http://www.thenassauguardian.com/index.php?option=com_content&id=41172&Itemid=27 on 12 Jun 2014.

[5] Department of Statistics of The Bahamas. Employed Persons by Sex and Industrial Group: 2008. (2008) N. Retrieved from http://statistics.bahamas.gov.bs/download/040030300.pdf on 11 Jun 2014

[6] Department of Statistics of The Bahamas. Employed Persons by Sex and Industrial Group: 2012. (2012) N. Retrieved from http://statistics.bahamas.gov.bs/download/087587900.pdf on 11 Jun. 2014

Figure 1. Plots of BJC grade distribution for mathematics, general science and health science.

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DR. CARLton WAtsonCarlton Watson is the head of Physics at the College of the Bahamas, and previously sat as the head of the Science and Technology Department at the college. Dr. Watson holds a bachelor’s degree from the Prairie View A&M University and completed his doctoral studies at the University of Iowa in 2001.

AIsHA BoWeAisha Bowe is the co-founder and CEO of STEMBoard. Founded in 2013, STEMBoard is an online community that connects professionals with mentors and recruiters hailing from top companies, universities, and government agencies. In addition to her work at STEMBoard, Aisha has spent several years as a researcher at the NASA Ames Research Center in California. Aisha has conceived and implemented programs aimed at encouraging students to pursue careers in science and technology, which included a stint as NASA’s liaison to the board of the San Jose State University Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement program. Aisha holds a B.S.E. in aerospace engineering and an M. Eng. in space systems engineering, both from the University of Michigan.

tRenICKA RoLLeTrenicka Rolle, was born and raised in Freeport, Grand Bahama. In addition to being published in various academic journals, Trenicka has held leadership positions in the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), worked with elementary and middle school students to understand engineering fundamentals, and received several awards including the 2013 Bahamas National Academic Scholarship. Trenicka completed her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2011; and recently received her master’s degree in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering.

oUR teAMBetAC is organized by a team of engineers and technology professionals dedicated to the advancement of steM in the Bahamas.

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D’AnDRé WILson-IHejIRIKAD’André Wilson-Ihejirika is originally from Nassau, Bahamas but moved to Canada in 2006 to pursue a degree in Chemical Engineering from McGill University. Subsequent-ly, she received a Master’s degree from the Centre for Management of Technology and Entrepreneurship at the University of Toronto. In 2012, D’André founded BrainSTEM Al-liance, an engineering educational consulting firm. She also started the Ziri Bags initia-tive to raise funds for scholarships for young women. D’Andre’s career has spanned the financial, research, non-profit and energy sectors and she currently works as a project development engineer in the Canadian Oil sands.

LAtoyA joHnsonLaToya Johnson is an independent consultant in Engineering and Business Consulting and is currently the Treasurer for BSE (Bahamas Society of Engineers). LaToya has over 10 years of technical experience with a degree in electrical engineering as well as an MBA. LaToya is a serial entrepreneur and in addition to her consulting business has owned a fitness centre in Eleuthera, as well as an ice cream parlor.

eRIKA CURRy Erika is project applications engineer at Sumitomo Drive Technologies and provides expertise in application assistance and verification of technical information. As the Project Manager at STEMBoard, Erika has shown a commitment to engineering and to education, and has managed technical projects in both private and public sectors. Erika holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Southern University A&M College and a master’s degree in engineering management from Old Dominion University.

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ALBRIon syMonetteAlbrion Symonette is a construction project engineer working in Nassau, Bahamas. He is an alumnus of the esteemed Morehouse College, where he was an active member of the National Society of Black Engineers. He graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, MO and currently owns a decorative pavement company called Deco Pave Bahamas, as well as a graphic design firm.

KoRDeRo st. CyRKordero St. Cyr is a Project Officer at the Ministry of Works and holds a BSc. in Civil Engineering from The University of Arkansas. Kordero has served in several capacities of mentorship most notably serving as Director of Adventures of Sciences and Math-ematics 2011, a community educational initiative spearheaded by Colina General. In addition to his other accomplishments, he developed a sustainability driven, science curriculum for middle school students. Kordero is also the founder and mentor for NSBE Bahamas at the College of The Bahamas.

tRAVIs MILLeRTravis Miller is a web developer at SPARK, a branding and advertising agency. Travis was born and raised in Nassau, Bahamas and competed his degree in Management In-formation Systems at the University fo Tampa John H. Sykes College of Business. Travis has been involved in numerous web development projects, competed in startup com-peitions and spoken at many events and panels on web development. In addition to his multiple accomplishments, Travis also has shown a dedication to education, mentoring young web developers in his spare time.

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BRADLey tHoMPsonBradley Thompson was born and raised in Freeport, Grand Bahama. An alumnus of Mc-Gill University in Computer Engineering, Bradley has developed websites for multiple organizations and businesses. Previously a web programmer for Frontstart, Bradley is now a systems support specialist at Freeport Container Port, specializing in Information Technology and Project Management. Bradley has experience using Javascript, AJAX, HTML, CSS, PHP and MySql; several programming languages including C and Java; wired and wireless network design as well as microprocessor design.

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2014 BetAC experienceThe Bahamas Engineering and Technology Advancement Camp gives junior high school students a chance to learn about various STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) disciplines and put their newfound knowledge to the test.This five-day summer camp is the brainchild of a diverse group of Bahamian and American engineers. These accomplished professionals share a passion for engineering education and are committed to enhancing the opportunities available to Bahamian youth. the theme for the 2014 summer camp is ‘Bringing the steM Revolution to the Bahamas’’. the camp will be divided into 5 streams:• Chemical&Bioengineering• Mechanical&AerospaceEngineering• Civil&EnvironmentalEngineering• ElectricalEngineering• ComputerScience&WebDevelopmentEach stream will have a technical demonstration exhibit (tDe) in which students will have to apply the theory and engineering de-sign techniques learned throughout the week. The students will then compete against their peers for the best technical design.

In addition to the TDE there will also be a design project in which students from the various technical streams will work together to come up with a technical solution to a current and pressing Bahamian issue. The theme ‘Bringing the STEM Revolution to the Bahamas’’ will be realized in this project, demonstrating to students and Bahamians in general how important STEM is to preserving our culture while boosting our country’s economy.

Finally there will be public panels, where we engage the Bahamian community and invite them to discuss with our team about the work we perform as STEM professionals and the present and future outlook of STEM within the Bahamas.

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specific Learning outcomesAs a group we believe in the importance of defining the specific learning outcomes (SLO) that will result from the participation in BETAC. We believe that this camp will not only be insightful and engaging but it will inspire future generations of Bahamian STEM professionals.

Therefore with this camp it is our desire to achieve the following SLO’s.

By the end of BetAC, students will be able to:

Understand the basic principles of engineering Describe the engineering design process

Acquire a solid foundation in a specific engineering discipline Gain experience in working with various engineering tools via hands-on activities and labs Develop a keen interest in mathematics and science

Learn to work within a team and become and effective team member Enhance their ability to research and problem solve Communicate results and findings to a large group Discover ways to address and resolve national issues Attain sufficient knowledge to decide on whether they would like to become engineers

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sUMMARy of CAMP DetAILs

Camp name

Camp theme

Camp Venue

Camp Dates

target Age Group

target Grade

number of students

engineering streams

total Budget $30,263.00

BAhAMAsEnginEEring&TEchnologyADVAnCeMent CAMP

Bringing the steM Revolution to the Bahamas

College of the Bahamas

july 28th - August 1st

11-14

7th - 9th

50

Aerospace&MechanicalEngineering

Bio/Chemical engineering

Civil/environmental engineering

Computer science/Computer engineering

electrical engineering

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summary of sponsorship optionsThe total budget for the camp is $30,263, below is a summary of the sponsorship opportunities. For more details of the budget and sponsorship options, see page 17.

sponsorship option

title Gold silver Bronze Panel sponsor sponsor a student In-Kind

Commitment $10,000 $5,000 $2,500 $1,000 $1,000 $500 n/A

OpportunitiesAvailable 1 3 5 10 3 Unlimited Unlimited

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X X X

Name on Website

Social Media Mentions

Logos on Website

Logos on Tshirts

Radio Mention

TV Mention

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Logo on Banner

Mention in Camp title

Logo on Panel Banner

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CAMP AGenDA

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sUMMeR CAMP BUDGetIn order to create a truly memorable and dynamic camp experience we will require a budget of $28,742.

Below is a breakdown of the estimated camp costs.

Accommodations Hotel $7,572.00On-Site Transportation $1,400.00Flights (FPO - NAS) [7] $1,400.00Flights (WAS - NAS) [4] $1,500.00total $11,872.00

food and food suppliesDaily Lunch (80) $4,800.00Hors d’oeuvre (Panel) $500.00Utensils $100.00total $5,400.00

DecorationsBanners $250.00Logo Design $150.00Vertical banner stands (2) $90.00Shipping $21.00 total $511.00

Program specific

Engineering Kits $3,000.00Posters/Charts $500.00T-Shirts $1,660.00total $5,160.00

suppliesPens $10.00Pencils $15.00Sharpener $75.00Dry-Erase Markers $40.00Permanent Markers $50.00Post-it Easel Pad $250.00Lab Notebooks (50) $700.00Shipping & Handling $200.00Tax $50.00total $1,390.00

PublicityWebsite $200.00Radio Advertising $300.00Photocopying/Printing $1,000.00ZNS/Cable12 $500.00Newspaper Ad $200.00Bahamas at Sunrise $350.00total $2,550.00

PrizesKindle Fire HD $750.00Nikon Digital Camera $500.00Beats by Dr. Dre Pill $780.00Windows Smartphone (Dell) $400.00Certificates/Plaques/Trophies $500.00Gifts $200.00Taxes & Fees $250.00total $3,380.00* Prizes may also include an Island Fun Gift Pack (movie passes, bowling pass-es, Atlantis passes, Nassau history tour pass)

total expenses $30,263.00

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sponsorship options

Platinum/Title SponsorContribution Amount: $10,000Opportunities Available: 1The Title Sponsor is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to partner with BETAC and to present your organization at the forefront of all of the camp advertising. The title sponsorship has the following benefits:• CompanyNamefeaturedincamptitle,i.e.2014BETACSummerExperiencepresentedby[YOURCOMPANY]• Logopresentonallcampsignageandpromotionalmaterials• LogopresentonBETACwebsitehomepageaswellassponsorspage• Logopresentprominentlyoncampt-shirt• CompanynamementionedinallradioandTVadvertising• CompanymentionedinsocialmediasuchasFacebookandTwitterposts

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sponsorship options Gold SponsorContribution Amount: $5,000Opportunities Available: 3The Gold sponsorship opportunity is a premium partnership with BETAC, allowing for exclusive benefits, including the following:• Logopresentoncampsignageandpromotionalmaterials• LogopresentprominentlyonBETACwebsitesponsorspage• Logopresentprominentlyoncampt-shirt• CompanynamementionedinradioandTVadvertising• CompanymentionedinsocialmediasuchasFacebookandTwitterposts

Silver SponsorContribution Amount: $2,500Opportunities Available: 5Silver sponsorship is an option with many benefits including:• LogopresentonBETACwebsitesponsorspage• Logopresentoncampt-shirt• CompanynamementionedinradioandTVadvertising• CompanymentionedinsocialmediasuchasFacebookandTwitterposts

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sponsorship options

Bronze SponsorContribution Amount: $1,000Contribution Amount: $1,000Opportunities Available: 10Bronze sponsorship includes the following benefits:• LogopresentonBETACwebsitesponsorspage• Logopresentoncampt-shirt• CompanymentionedinsocialmediasuchasFacebookandTwitterposts

Panel SponsorContribution Amount: $1,000Opportunities Available: 3The Panel sponsorship option is the opportunity to support one of the camp`s public panels. With only three opportunities available the benefits include:• CompanynameinPanel,i.e.PublicPanelpresentedby[YOURCOMPANYNAME]• LogoplacedonBETACwebsite• Mentioninsocialmediaposts

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sponsorship options

Sponsor A StudentContribution Amount: $500Opportunities Available: UnlimitedThe approximate cost for a student to attend BETAC is $500. By contributing this amount you are supporting a student that may not be financially able to afford such a camp experience. This sponsorship opportunity is for small businesses and individuals who support the mission of BETAC. Sponsorship benefits include the following• NameplacedonBETACwebsitethankingthecontributorforsponsorship• Mentionofcompanyorindividualinsocialmedia

In-KindContribution Amount: N/AOpportunities Available: UnlimitedIn addition to monetary sponsorships, we are also looking to partner with organizations for in-kind support. In-kind support could be in the form of stationary supplies, scientific equipment, prizes for engineering competitions among other things. The benefits of in-kind sponsorship will vary with the value of the in-kind support. Please contact us for more information about this opportunity

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Contact Information

for more information, please see our website:

www.betac242.com

Any questions or concerns, please email us at

betac242@gmail.com