Author: Wesley Baker

GCPA News

SRHS’s Premier Signature Program

Global Communications & Public Affairs Signature Program Newsletter -

Volume 1, Spring 2016

SRHS’s GCPA Signature Program Steals the Show at the AACPS Science Fair
Megan Rutkai, a junior and a Global Communications & Public Affairs Signature Program student at SRHS, had an outstanding showing at the AACPS Regional Science and Engineering Fair, where she received 8 awards. Megan said, “The AACPS Regional Science and Engineering Fair has been an amazing experience. I can't believe the success I've seen with my project and the interest it has inspired among so many people, judges, and organizations.”
At the Science Fair Awards, Megan Rutkai was recognized for her project, "Evaluation of PPHAI (Potentially Preventable Hospital Acquired Infection) Rates in Maryland Hospitals," which is an extension of the research she performed for the Global Communications and Public Affairs Signature Program.
“It is an honor to have received the "Grand Award Winner Honorable Mention" and "First Place" in Medicine and Health Science,” said Megan. Her Science Fair project began in September 2013, when she took the Global Communications and Public Affairs (GCPA) Signature Program class as a freshman. As part of the class, Megan chose to research a solution to antibiotic resistance.
In February, Megan presented her findings to a team of doctors at the Simulation for Advancement in Innovation and Learning (SAIL) Center at Anne Arundel Medical Center. They offered excellent advice for moving forward, and have invited her back to present her findings to larger audiences in the future.
Megan generously acknowledges and extends her “sincerest thanks to Ms. Linda Lamon, Mr. Wesley Baker, and the GCPA Signature Team for inspiring me to achieve success and make a difference in science. I also want to thank Mr. Ivan George, Dr. Udai Sibia, Dr. Hamid Zahiri, and the SAIL Center at AAMC for their incredible expertise and guidance for helping to make my project the best that it can be. Finally, I'm so thankful for the support of my parents for making my work possible.”
In addition to receiving the "Grand Award Winner Honorable Mention" and "First Place" in Medicine and Health Science”, Megan also received the following awards:
"Distinguishing Achievement 1st Place Award";
"Meritorious Achievement Award" from the Commissioned Officers
Association of the United States Public Health Service;
"First Place Award for Responsibility in Science" from the National
Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals;
"Naval Science Award" from the Office of Naval Research;
"Certificate of Outstanding Achievement for Ability and Creativity in In Vitro
Biology" from the Society for In Vitro Biology; and, the
"Outstanding Engineer Award" from the Society of Women Engineers.

Above—Principal Mr. Myers with winner Megan Rutkai

In This Issue
GCPA Steals the Show
Spotlight on Public Affairs
National History Day Winner
Students of the Month
The England Experience
AVID Corner
Where Are They Now?GCPA Signature Alumni Elizabeth Frenaye

Public Affairs
Simply put, public affairs are matters of general concern, especially social issues that affect many of us. Board categories include health, education, war, poverty, transportation, shelter, water, food, waste, energy, and the economy. The priority of certain public affairs is affected primarily by government relations and media communications.
Global Greatness Project
This is a year-long project in which students research a public affair that they are passionate about. They learn the perceptions, problems, rules, lexicon, stakeholders, and other information behind their issue. Ultimately students will come up with a unique plan to solve their issue and begin executing their plan. Students will use various forms of technology to present their findings.
This Year’s Global Greatness Projects
A sampling of projects chosen by GCPA students include:
Improving the economy of Puerto Rico
Eliminating the mental health stigma
Decreasing cardiovascular disease
Incorporating more foreign language in schools
Increasing the use of technology in elementary school
Preventing PTSD
Educating people on the harmful effects of global warming
Ending the LGBT stigma

National History Day
Through the National History Day contest, students in grades 6-12 engage in discovery and interpretation of historical topics related to an annual theme. In the process, they hone their talents and produce creative and scholarly projects in the form of exhibits, documentaries, historical papers, performances, or web site. After a series of district and state contests, the program culminates with a national competition at the University of Maryland in College Park each June.
SRHS GCPA
Signature Program Winner
GCPA Signature student Alexa Scheoneborn placed 1st in the AACPS National History Day Senior Division for Individual Research Paper on the historical value of the Rhode River.
Alexa is also a founding member of SRHS’s History Club and a member of Rho Kappa, the Humanities National Honor Society.
Students of the Month from the GCPA Signature Program
Each student displayed an extraordinary amount of talent, maturity, and hard work in class. They are a great group of leaders who we
believe will successfully guide our nation. Our future is definitely in good hands!
ZX

Above from left to right—Megan Faery, Juliana Boyle, Lauren Cox, Alexis Brownlee, Alexa Schoeneborn, and Grace Drago

England Trip

GCPA Signature program offers several field trips to their students. In February, students from SRHS got the opportunity to go to England. A former GCPA Signature student, Megan Rutkai, recalls her experience and what she learned about British politics:
"Visiting England was an interesting and fun experience because although the UK is similar to the United States in many ways, there are also prominent distinctions. In speaking with Bristol South member of parliament Karin Smyth about her urban constituency's biggest issues, our group identified many parallels between her city's challenges and the economic and social challenges that face many American cities.

One of the European issues that we had the opportunity to discuss with Ms. Smyth was the "Brexit," or Britain's proposed exit from the European Union due to economic and security concerns. Although the Brexit may be more important to Europeans than it is to many Americans, the underlying economic and security themes of the "Brexit" are often debated in America. In contemporary political discussions, American politicians debate national security in relation to immigration on America's southern border. America's involvement in the Trans-Pacific Partnership also creates debate about the economic advantages and drawbacks of globalization and protectionism.

America and the UK face many of the same issues. I found it beneficial to my growth as a global citizen and student to learn from the UK's ideas and values to gain a new perspective on familiar challenges." ~ Megan Rutkai, SRHS Class of 2017

Above—GCPA Signature students Lindsey Robertson, Grace Vermillion, and Megan Rutkai in England

AVID CORNER
Annapolis Squadron Cadet Receives the Prestigious Amelia Earhart Award: SRHS Teen Recognized for Leadership
By Sally B. Ludwig, April 3, 2016 12:39 pm ET
3/22/16 – Edgewater, Maryland. On March 22, 2016, Annapolis Composite Squadron assisted another cadet to achieve excellence; as Kyle McVay procured the prestigious Amelia Earhart Award. This award was presented by Lt. Col. Christopher Howell, the Maryland Wing Chief of Staff.
The Amelia Earhart Award represents the completion of another stage of a cadet’s Civil Air Patrol career and the commencing of a new one. Along with the completion of phase three, the “Command Phase,” the cadet also receives the rank of Cadet Captain. This shows that the knows how to lead other cadets and how to further assist them in their CAP education.
The cadet must first past a difficult leadership and aerospace exam; which is a review of all that they have learned previously in their Civil Air Patrol career. Then they must pass a grueling physical training test, which tests them on their ability to uphold excellence. They also must have held one staff position in their squadron, teaching them to take on new and greater responsibilities.
It is estimated that only 5% out of all cadets that join Civil Air Patrol receive this award. This shows Cadet McVay’s determination to aim for the challenges and to be a leader and example to his fellow cadets.
McVay has been an active member of Civil Air Patrol for three years. He has held many important positions including the squadron Color Guard Commander and Flight Commander in the Tri-Wing (Maryland, Delaware, DC) Encampment.
Cadet McVay is currently a high school freshman at South River High School. He plans to attend Glider Academy this summer and solo school next year. After obtaining his college degree, he strives to be an officer in the U.S. military.
For more Information, visit our web page at www.capannapolis.org.

South River High Senior Wins WJZ’s Black History Oratory Competition
February 15, 2016 5:52 PM By Marcus Washington
BALTIMORE (WJZ) — She came and she conquered, becoming the winner of WJZ‘s 23rd annual Black History Month Oratory Competition.
Marcus Washington has more on the winner, and the excitement from her family. “I had prepared by going in with confidence. I went in there and I set a goal for myself, and my goal was top three,” WJZ Oratory winner Paris Walker said.
But it was first place South River High School senior Paris Walker achieved. She, along with 17 other talented and creative high school students, competed in WJZ‘s 23rd annual Black History Month Oratory Competition–part of our continuing community commitment.
“I feel great. It’s very exciting. The whole experience was great for me. I gained a lot of confidence. It was just a success,” said Walker. Spending time with Paris and her family, you realize something quickly–she is a talented young lady–she can also play piano.
Her parents say they couldn’t be more proud of her recent accomplishments. “Every child there did well, but for me to see her actually claim the prize, to see the fulfillment of all her hard work was just awesome,” said Tamara Walker, mother. “She didn’t surprise me that she did so well. I was just surprised at how well she remembered all the words. It was exciting to see that,” said Kevin Walker, father.
Paris says it’s her family that helps push her through any obstacles, and it’s that love that she has that can help her achieve anything she puts her mind to. “Because nothing will get in the way of my dreams,” she said during her speech.
Paris plans to attend Temple University in the fall. She says she hopes to become a doctor one day–just like her mother.
The top three winners of the oratory competition received prizes and scholarships from sponsors Toyota Financial Services, McDonald’s, Enoch Pratt Free Library and the Reginald F. Lewis Museum.

Where Are They Now? GCPA Signature Program
Alumni Elizabeth Frenaye
Elizabeth Frenaye, SRHS Class of 2015 and former GCPA student, is now attending American University and is majoring in international studies. In between graduation and her freshman year of college, she was accepted into a summer program called University College at AU. The program is a living learning community for her World Politics Class and included 14 weeks of "labs" on Wednesdays. During the labs, they went to the Library of Congress, the Holocaust Museum, a resume-building workshop, the State Department, Studio Theatre to see the play Chimerica, the Islamic center, the Newseum, the United States Institute of Peace, Women for Women International, Chemonics, the International Labour Rights Forum, the Spy Museum, and the International Organization on Migration.
She is currently taking Spanish, Microeconomic, College Writing, Cross-Cultural-Communication, my freshman year seminar, and a research program. The research program is called "The Secular and the Scared,” which is about the global interconnection between politics and religion. For instance, in some parts of the Islamic world, Islamist activists equate “secularism” with “atheism,” which in turn is understood to be anti-Islamic and thus a primary threat to their existence. In parts of Western Europe, religious symbols and headdresses are banned from public view in the name of secularism, prompting accusations of the state violating religious freedoms. The program will address the questions: what does “secularism” actually mean? How is it conceptualized and operationalized differently in states across the globe? What explains these differences? What can be done to mitigate tensions between the “secular and the sacred”?
Elizabeth’s GCPA Experience and Impact
“GCPA Signature Exploration classes were such fun and creative classes. It wasn’t just a class, it became a community- it was one of the only classes where I felt connected to everyone in the room. All conversations were open, and debate was encouraged. While learning useful information, we, as students, were able to connect information to current world events as well as our own lives. In the GCPA Signature classes, students became teachers. We learned ideas such as good research, which really helped in my college career. Through our projects, we taught our peers and ourselves which was very rewarding. Our projects brought out a new passion. And thanks to the research and time I put into the final module, I am able to continue using the same research in classes in clubs at college. GCPA was a class where new ideas and perspectives were constantly free flowing and being in that environment was very comforting and constructive for everyday life and future endeavors.”
~ Elizabeth Frenaye, SRHS Class of ‘15

Right—Elizabeth Frenaye doing work for her American University classes on a nice day

Contact Us
To find out more information about Global Communications and Public Affairs Signature Program, please contact:
Linda Lamon, Signature Program Facilitator Media 3 llamon@aacps.org
Wesley Baker, Lead GCPA Teacher B129 wbaker@aacps.org
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