Sixteen students and mentors from Kent State’s Rural Scholars Program recently participated in a workshop at Waste Management in New Springfield.
While there, they learned about innovations in waste disposal and reuse and toured a methane power plant, which converts gases from organic waste in the landfill into electric power.
The Rural Scholars also participated in the Athletic Shoe Challenge which required them to research and write proposals to reuse athletic shoes while setting parameters for their proposals that included market viability, cost consideration and the use of technology.
The students also learned about the diverse career fields at Waste Management, including civil engineering, chemistry, management, construction and information technology.
Kent State’s Rural Scholars Program offers first-generation college-bound students from Columbiana County and neighboring areas a college access program designed to give them, and their families, the knowledge, rigorous academic exposure and social support they need to be successful at a world-class university. The goal is that every student in the program complete post-secondary education with the credentials needed to succeed in his or her career.
Students who complete the high school portion of the program will be eligible to apply for a Rural Scholars scholarship at Kent State’s Salem and East Liverpool campuses and to serve as mentors for students following in their footsteps.
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Media Contact:
Tina Smith, 330-337-4247, tsmit170@kent.edu