Celebrating 25 Years of the STEM Summer Bridge Program

A year-long celebration to commemorate the 25^th Anniversary of Summer Bridge will officially begin on July 1!

In 1997, COSAM welcomed the first cohort of 27 students to the Summer Bridge Program. Developed and implemented by Dr. Overtoun Jenda, with the support of Dean Stewart Schneller, this program was designed to help students majoring in STEM fields to successfully transition to college. The program focused on academic preparedness, time management, and career awareness for students who have been historically excluded in STEM. Twenty-five years later the mission of the program has stayed the same, to provide academic and social support that will prepare students holistically for the rigors of STEM. 

On July 1^st, the STEM Summer Bridge Program will host the closing ceremony to celebrate the 25^th cohort of participants. Dr. TaShawna Thomas Stokes ’01 (Biomedical Sciences), will serve as the keynote speaker. Dr. Stokes, a native of Montgomery, participated in the inaugural Summer Bridge program in 1997. As a student, Dr. Stokes was incredibly involved in campus organizations and served as both a War Eagle Girl and Miss Auburn. Dr. Stokes went on to receive her medical training at the University of South Alabama and served as Chief Resident at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. She currently lives in metro Atlanta with her husband and two daughters. Dr. Stokes is a practicing pediatrician and recently published her first children’s book.

Living the Creed: Dr. Barry Booth’s lifetime of service commemorated with Auburn surprise

Sixty years ago, Dr. Barry Lee Booth (’63 pre-dentistry) finished his instruction at Auburn University and entered dental school at the University of Alabama, taking with him cherished memories of the Plains, yet leaving behind one special document.

At the time, students could enter medical and dental school after their junior year and qualify for an Auburn degree after their first year of professional school. Such was the case for Booth, and he transitioned to dental school never having received his diploma from Auburn—until now.

In a surprise ceremony on May 27, Booth was presented his Auburn diploma by Auburn President Christopher B. Roberts and Executive Vice President Lt. Gen. (ret.) Ron Burgess.

“I’ve bled burnt orange and blue since 1958—the diploma is appreciated,” said Booth. “I will see it every day and think of the moment I received it and the special people that were around me at the time. It was certainly an unexpected surprise.”

Students explore local biodiversity from field to museum at AUMNH’s Curious Curators Camp

Why do we have natural history museums? Why are they important, and how do museum collections grow?

Rising fourth through sixth graders got answers to these questions and more through an interactive, hands-on biodiversity experience at Curious Curators Camp hosted by the Museum of Natural History at Auburn University, or AUMNH.

In two camp sessions held June 13-17 and June 20-24, campers participated in a combination of outdoor fieldwork activities and indoor class instruction led by AUMNH museum staff. The camp focused on the significance of natural history collections, how museum collections are curated and grow, the importance of biodiversity, an exploration of our local biodiversity and the scientists who study it.

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COSAM Today is published by COSAM's Office of Communications and Marketing. Questions? Send an email to mcg0052@auburn.edu.