MEDIA ADVISORY

Ascension Aspiring Engineers Visit the Speed School

(Louisville, KY) On Wednesday, November 18, sixth-graders at Ascension School (4600 Lynnbrook Drive) will visit the University of Louisville’s Speed School of Engineering from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This visit is the culmination of an engineering education program that began at the school this fall. Beginning in September, students have spent part of each Wednesday with Gary Rivoli, assistant professor and director of outreach programs at the University of Louisville’s Speed School of Engineering. The students have been studying bridges and gears and have been building models of truss, arch, and suspension bridges.

Ascension is using curriculum from a program called “In the Middle of Engineering” developed by the nonprofit “Project Lead the Way,” which is a national sponsor of middle and high school math and science programs. This curriculum is part of a local and national push, involving the University of Louisville and other local organizations, to create a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) “pipeline” that will lead children and youth to consider careers in math, science or engineering. Ascension is the first school in the Archdiocese of Louisville to participate in this program.

Students will tour labs and facilities at the Speed School. The schedule is:

Times are approximate. If you are covering the event, please call Ms. Becky Smith (319-0116), sixth-grade teacher, or Professor Gary Rivoli (905-2545) at the time you arrive for the exact location of the class.

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