The K. C. Old Boys’ Association (GA) Inc (KCOBA) and the Atlanta Metro Chapter of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChe) were joint sponsors of Super Science Saturday which was held at Woodland Middle School in East Point, Georgia on November 9, 2013.
The event featured several hands on fun activities aimed at getting elementary and middle school students excited about science. Volunteers from several Metro Atlanta Colleges, including Spellman College Chemistry Club, Atlanta Technical College, Atlanta Metropolitan College Chemistry and PreMed/PrePharm Clubs, Georgia Gwinnett College Biology Club and Morehouse School of Medicine were on hand to conduct experiments.
Dr. Jennifer Barber was the logistics coordinator for NOBCChe while Cherisse Campbell and Toni Laman were the Woodland Middle School coordinators.
The attendees were treated to a broad range of activities that showcased how much fun science can be. At one event, the kids were supervised as they made ice cream using common household ingredients such as cow’s milk, condensed milk and vanilla with the super cooling property of dry ice.
Woodland science teacher, Bolaji Cole, led students outdoors for some explosions using carbonated soft drinks such as Coca-Cola and Ginger Ale in experiments to measure which flavor reacted most strongly with mentos.
In another experiment, Ron Ellis and Norma Charles, a team of biology interns from Atlanta Technical College under sponsorship from NASA demonstrated how viscosity relates to “quick sand”. Dr. Tolecia Clark, a chemistry instructor at Atlanta Technical College had the children engaged as they built a density tower.
The passion shown by Dr. Clark was symptomatic of all the presenters and volunteers which heightened the children’s interest in the activities. The event concluded with a quiz bowl held in the auditorium. Representatives from KCOBA and the NOBCChe quizzed the kids on fun facts from the activities and gave out prizes to the winners.
With our team of excited volunteers, KCOBA takes pride in giving back to our community. “It is refreshing to see so many black male professionals getting involved in the community for our young ones to look up to,” commented one parent. A teacher from another school in the Atlanta district has already reached out to ask KCOBA to assist with a similar initiative.
The volunteers from the KCOBA included President Anthony Williams, VP Earl Adams and directors, Whylie Chambers and Dr. Glen Laman.
Event coordinator, Bernice Green, President of the Atlanta Chapter of NOBCChe is looking forward to next year’s event and foresees an even greater turnout with increased press coverage.
The NOBCChe, volunteers and Woodland Middle School must be commended for putting on a very thought engaging and fun filled set of activities. KCOBA is looking forward to partner again next year with NOBCChe and hopes the numbers will grow beyond the more than over 200 attendees at this year’s event.
KCOBA Atlanta has been a co-sponsor of the Super Science Saturday at Woodland Middle School for several years. Our outreach to the community is an integral part of KCOBA’s commitment to education and educational activities.