LILLINGTON - The Central Carolina Community College Laser Club will host the inaugural High School Photonics Science Fair on Thursday, Dec. 7, at CCCC's Harnett Main Campus, located at 1075 E. Cornelius Harnett Blvd. in Lillington. The event, which is open to the public, begins at 6 p.m. in Room 135 of CCCC's Miriello Building.
For the past three years, the CCCC Laser Club has hosted a public Photonics Education and Awareness event, which follows the mission of the SPIE Student Chapter organization. The High School Photonics Science Fair is continuing this mission.
Eight teams from area high schools have accepted the challenge to showcase an optics/photonics themed project and will compete for prizes -- LASER-TEC Laser Educational Kits for their school. Prize awards are valued at $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place, and $300 for third place. Five of the teams are from the Integrated Systems Technology Academy at Jack Britt High School in Fayetteville. The organizer and advisor for these teams is Jack Britt Technology Teacher Henrietta Jutson. Three teams are from the new Harnett County Early College in Dunn. The organizer and advisor for these teams is Science Teacher Sherrie Ivey.
"We are excited to welcome the teams and their families to CCCC and look forward to hosting the Photonics Fair as an annual event," said Nickolas Jorgenson, CCCC Laser Club president.
Dr. MJ Soileau, UCF CREOL Founding Director, and Dr. James Pearson, Special Consultant to CREOL and Executive Director of Florida Photonics Cluster, have accepted an invitation to attend the High School Photonics Science Fair. UCF CREOL is University of Central Florida's College of Optics and Photonics located in Orlando. CREOL started in 1987 as the Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers, and became a College in 2004. Both Dr. Soileau and Dr. Pearson are renowned engineers, scientists, and educators, with numerous prestigious accomplishments and awards.
The High School Photonics Science Fair includes a presentation from Dr. Soileau on "Laser History & Impact in Modern World," as well as tours of the laser labs for all attendees.
Gary Beasley, Lead Instructor of the CCCC Laser & Photonics program, noted, "Anyone interested in science or technology should definitely include this event on their calendar! Attendees not only will get to see high school students compete on a scientific intellectual level, but also hear a talk by Dr. Soileau, where they will learn about laser history and its impact from someone who has worked in laser research, industry, and education during the growth of the laser industry."
The High School Photonics Science Fair is being largely funded by a National Science Foundation (NSF) Laser and Fiber Optics ATE Grant (LASER-TEC), which CCCC participates as a Co-Principal Investigator. The LASER-TEC NSF ATE Grant supports preparing students for the fast growing fields of lasers and fiber optics technology. Dr. Chrys Panayiotou, from Indian Rivers State College, is the Principal Investigator of LASER-TEC. Photonics is the study of the use of light, such as lasers, for industrial and other purposes.
For further information on the High School Photonics Science Fair, contact Gary Beasley at 910-814-8828 or gbeasley@cccc.edu.
Harnett County Early College Science teacher Sherrie Ivey (right) visits with Central Carolina Community College Laser & Photonics program students and lead instructor to discuss the upcoming High School Photonics Science Fair on Dec. 7 at CCCC's Harnett Main Campus in Lillington. Pictured are, left to right: Nickolas Jorgenson, Jamal Robinson, Isabelle Karis, Lead Instructor Gary Beasley, and Harnett County Early College Science teacher Sherrie Ivey.
Central Carolina Community College Laser & Photonics Lead Instructor Gary Beasley and his CCCC students visit with Harnett County Early College Science teacher Sherrie Ivey and her students.