SPACEHORIZONS WHO ARE WE? We are a non-profit organization comprised of members of the entertainment, science, industry, and academic communities all dedicated to promoting interest in higher education (particularly in STEM fields) for minority and female high school students in underserved communities.

SPACEHORIZONS WHAT PROBLEM ARE WE TRYING TO SOLVE? FINANCIAL GROWTH & STABILITY Workers in STEM fields—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—play a critically important role in driving economic growth, and STEM employment represents a significant pathway to family-supporting incomes and financial stability. DIVERSITY IN STEM INDUSTRIES Yet far too few individuals from underrepresented groups— in particular, African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans—are among the ranks of STEM workers. To date, the focus on STEM employment has emphasized jobs that require a Bachelor’s degree or higher—and federal policy and investment have reinforced that focus.

SPACEHORIZONS WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT FROM OTHER STEM PROGRAMS?

SPACEHORIZONS WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT FROM OTHER STEM PROGRAMS?

1) Our Guest Speaker Program Presenting any subject effectively these days require that we present it in a way that truly engages, excites, and involves the students. We are merging science and entertainment (TV, film, sports) to generate student interest and excitement to grab the student’s attention. The people that will be featured in a guest speaker program will inspire the students by the types of careers that can be obtained through an investment in higher education. This shows the students that the concepts they’re learning about will connect to the actual careers they will pursue later in life, or to any other useful purpose. It answers the questions “Why do I need to know this?” or “When will I ever use this?”

2) After-School Aerospace Program With the expert help of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the students will design, build, test, and launch an actual space experiment. N Most experts seem to agree that one of the most effective methods for teaching STEM is by creating exercises where certain results will occur, and students have to discover WHY they occurred, through experimentation, research, and trial-and- error activities. In short, they find the answers to these questions through the use of hands-on, project based learning. While many of us may have come of age in a time when textbooks and lectures ruled the classroom, this is no longer an adequate approach, especially when dealing with something as complex as STEM. A truly engaging classroom experience requires that students roll up their sleeves so to speak and get actively involved in finding the answers to the problems being discussed, and not just sit passively behind a desk.

3) Video Documentary & Online Learning Video recording of guest speaker series and documentary filming of small satellite project We have the ability to reach far more students across the U.S. than the typical STEM Program. SpaceHorizons believes that the STEM problem in our country is so severe (particularly in minority communities) that it cannot be solved one class or one school at a time. Our guest lecture series will be video recorded and made available at no charge to schools across the country. A documentary of our hands-on space program will be filmed and produced. It will have the potential to reach millions of students.

4) Commitment to Community Colleges Building relationships with local community colleges Over forty percent (40%) of STEM Bachelor’s or Master’s graduates attended a community college at some point. Studies show that many students often fail at a four year University because of their inability to adjust to a very different culture from the one in which they have grown up. One-half of all STEM jobs are available to workers without a four-year college degree—and these jobs pay $53,000 on average, 10 percent higher than other jobs with similar educational requirements. Many of these jobs can also be stepping stones to higher skilled positions, many of which require going back to school for further education

SPACEHORIZONS WHAT RESULTS DO WE EXPECT? Through our mass media coverage (recorded guest speakers /documentary) we can anticipate a 100X multiple effect on eventual STEM participation. Why? Data as validated by advertising studies. Same impact as advertising on target populations using the very worst case assumption. We will reach an audience of 100,000 students in our target demographic. Of those at just a 0.6% impact rate, an additional 600 students will choose to pursue higher education in a STEM field. A 100X multiple effect.

SPACEHORIZONS HOW WILL WE MEASURE OUR SUCCESS? QUESTIONNAIRE: A before and after questionnaire will be developed jointly by the school staff and SpaceHorizons that will measure the student’s interest in STEM education after attending the guest speaker program and/or the after school small satellite project. POST GRADUATION FOLLOW-UP: The students will be tracked following graduation to measure the % of students who pursue higher education and complete either a two year or four year degree. These results will be compared with historical data for the school and against students who did not participate in the program.