Sizemore believes the education he’ll get from a STEM-focused (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) institution will serve him well in a future career in the medical field.
He’s already looking forward to the last two years when students get to do post-secondary education and internships.
“I get a jump start on college and (get to be) more hands-on with things,” he said.
The academy focuses on career readiness in the fields of bio-sciences like food, agriculture, environmental studies, health care and energy through hands-on learning.
Wesley also is looking forward to learning about getting a job after college or high school and to find out what companies are looking for, he said.
While he’s still exploring his options, Sizemore has considered becoming a medical doctor.
“It’s just really interesting all the sicknesses, even working in a pharmacy setting, working on medicines, it’s all very interesting to me — working on new medicines, trying to find cures even for things,” he said.
He is strongly drawn to math and sciences but also enjoys reading, he said.
“That’s why we knew this is going to be something that will definitely be an option for him,” his mother, Karen, said. “He knows even getting all this type of education and more emphasis on the science and math is going to just help him down the road, and he’s excited to know that within the first two years he can have all his high school credits done and out of the way, and then junior and senior year are going to be either in some type of internship or getting an associate’s degree.”
Wesley and Karen said there were several reasons they decided to apply to send Wesley to Global Impact.
“From reading about it, when I was thinking about it, it sounded too good of an opportunity to pass up. Being right here in the city where I live, it would be crazy not to go there with all of the options that you have like post-secondary and internships,” Wesley said. “It was too good to go to Shawnee (High School), where I probably won’t have that much of that stuff.”
Karen said that the formation of Global Impact came at a time when she was researching STEM schools in Dayton and Columbus for Wesley to attend after completing 8th grade at Rockway School in the Clark-Shawnee district.
“I came upon these STEM schools and I thought, ‘Wow, this just sounds too good to be true,’ and lo and behold it wasn’t like a few months after I really started digging that then the news came they were going to have one for Springfield,” she said.
She feels as if students will learn applicable skills they need in today’s STEM-based industries, and at a faster pace than they would in a traditional high school setting.
“I don’t think people quite understood, or even still today understand, what it is and what a huge advantage it’s going to give these kids, especially in the workforce for the next years coming down. The technology that they need to have to keep up and get jobs is where they really need to be concentrating now,” Karen said.
“A normal classroom is fine, but when they can learn more of what is expected and what’s going to help them get further down the road in their education, then I’m all for them learning it now instead of waiting until they get to the college time,” she added.
The staff’s enthusiasm for the academy was yet another reason Karen wanted Wesley to go there.
“(Director Josh Jennings) is so enthusiastic about this program. (Wesley) can feel Josh’s enthusiasm on this school and this program, and it makes the kids want to get in there and learn and take it all in and see what adventures are going to be lying ahead for them,” she said.
Both Wesley and Karen said they believe interest in the academy will grow after the first year as more people become aware of it, what STEM is, and what’s offered there.
“I think it’s one of these things that it’s kind of like the best-kept little secret right now, but I think once it gets to rolling this year and people hear about it and know more about it, next year they are going to be more wanting to get on board with it,” Karen said.
School organizers initially had planned for 200 students total when the academy was to open with freshmen and juniors in the former South High School. A revised projection for just freshmen predicted 75 students, and opening day should see two-thirds of that goal.
Jennings said remodeling of classroom space at its temporary location in Clark State Community College’s Shull Hall is nearly complete and will be ready by the time school opens.
For example, the school had to install vent hoods in the science lab for use with some experiments.
Officials say it’s the first STEM school of its kind in the nation. It will officially open its doors Monday with a ribbon cutting event at 11 a.m. at Shull Hall on Clark State’s campus, 570 E. Leffel Lane.
State Sen. Chris Widener, R-Springfield, who championed the school, will be joined by Clark State President Jo Alice Blondin, local government officials, and state program and industry representatives in giving talks.
Students, staff and state dignitaries are also expected to attend the event.
For more information, visit www.globalimpactacademy.org.
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