The Research Apprenticeship Program for High School Students in Vicinity of Research Triangle Park, N.C.

The summary for the The Research Apprenticeship Program for High School Students in Vicinity of Research Triangle Park, N.C. grant is detailed below. This summary states who is eligible for the grant, how much grant money will be awarded, current and past deadlines, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers, and a sampling of similar government grants. Verify the accuracy of the data FederalGrants.com provides by visiting the webpage noted in the Link to Full Announcement section or by contacting the appropriate person listed as the Grant Announcement Contact. If any section is incomplete, please visit the website for the Environmental Protection Agency, which is the U.S. government agency offering this grant.

The Research Apprenticeship Program for High School Students in Vicinity of Research Triangle Park, N.C.: The Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) began in 1990 as a collaborative effort between EPA s Office of Research and Development in Research Triangle Park, NC and an historically black college/university (HBCU) located in Raleigh, NC. The program was established to encourage high school students to pursue advanced degrees in math, science, and engineering by: 1) enriching the scientific and mathematic concepts that students study in the classroom; 2) providing the opportunity to interact with scientists ; 3) developing effective scientific research and technical skills; and 4) enhancing students motivation, self-confidence, and desire to achieve. Students accepted into the RAP must demonstrate superior ability in math and science, live in the vicinity of Research Triangle Park, N.C., and be in grades 9 through 12. Students in the RAP must maintain high academic performance in high school and strict attendance standards to remain in the program. Participating students receive a stipend under the cooperative agreement. Students enter the program as 9th graders and continue through the 12th grade. Currently, there are eight to ten positions for each of the four grades for a total of 34 students. All of the current students reside in Wake County, N.C. There are two sessions: the academic year and the summer. During the academic year three Saturdays each month, students attend classes, workshops, and monthly interactive presentations by EPA scientists at the recipient s site. During the summer, the 24 rising 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students attend 6 weeks of classes and workshops at the recipient s site. The eight rising seniors apprentice with EPA mentors in Research Triangle Park and are transported to the EPA facility by the recipient. This intensive experience immerses the students in scientific research and culminates in a research forum at EPA during which each student presents their project to an audience that includesthe mentors, other students in the program, their families, and EPA scientists. The cooperative agreement that EPA uses to fund the RAP is due to expire in September, 2003, though an extension though December 31, 2003 is planned. The EPA is seeking an applicant willing to continue the program or one of a similar nature for the next five years. The successful applicant would be expected to assimilate those students who have not graduated and to provide opportunities for new students to participate. Applicants should propose their approach for continuing the program for the existing students, their approach for new students, and how these two groups will be coordinated.