Sep 17, 2022

Moran stops in Salina to visit Kansas STARBASE youth program

Posted Sep 17, 2022 5:58 PM
<b>U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, upper left, learns about the Kansas STARBASE program as&nbsp;Major General David Weishaar, Kansas Adjutant General, kneeling, talks with students participating in the program.</b> Photos courtesy Senator Moran's office
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, upper left, learns about the Kansas STARBASE program as Major General David Weishaar, Kansas Adjutant General, kneeling, talks with students participating in the program. Photos courtesy Senator Moran's office

By SALINA POST

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran was in Salina Friday to visit the United States Department of Defense Kansas STARBASE program for youth.

The science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) outreach program in Salina is located at the Kansas National Guard facility at 2929 Scanlan Avenue. Kansas STARBASE also has programs in Kansas City, Manhattan, Topeka, and Wichita.

Students from Windom and Wilson were participating in the STARBASE program when Moran visited. Moran was accompanied on his visit by Major General David Weishaar, Kansas Adjutant General.

<b>Moran, upper left, and&nbsp;Weishaar, upper right, with the students from Windom.</b>
Moran, upper left, and Weishaar, upper right, with the students from Windom.

"Investing in our next generation of leaders is critically important, and it was great to speak with these talented young Kansans about everything they are learning through this program," Moran said.

STARBASE is a five-day program that "focuses on elementary students, primarily fifth graders. The goal is to motivate them to explore Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) as they continue their education. STARBASE serves students who are historically under-represented in STEM," according to information on the Kansas STARBASE website.

The STARBASE program's curriculum meets both state and national standards. The program is delivered at each site at no cost to participating schools, with the schools picking up the transportation costs, according to the Kansas STARBASE website.

"Training and equipping Kansans to excel in STEM fields is one of my top priorities, and I am confident these young students will go on to do great things for our state and country," Moran said.

<b>Moran, left, and&nbsp;Weishaar, right, with the students from Wilson.</b>
Moran, left, and Weishaar, right, with the students from Wilson.

STARBASE history courtesy the Kansas STARBASE website

The STARBASE program got its start in 1989 in Michigan with a discussion between Barbara Koscak and Brigadier General David Arendts concerning a hands-on math and science program.

In 1990, Koscak won the A. Scott Crossfield Award and used that to money to pay for a summer camp at Selfridge Air National Guard Base near Mount Clemens, Mich., called Project Stars - later changed to STARBASE - while writing an additional grant for WK Kellogg. This camp proved to Kellogg that children needed more hands-on math and science.

In 1991, a WK Kellogg grant was awarded to Mt. Clemens Schools and Selfridge Air National Guard Base to start the full time STARBASE program.

In 1993, the U.S. Department of Defense made funds available for the Nationl Guard to start a school-year program, and STARBASE was formaly launched. Kansas was one of seven original states to receive funding for the STARBASE program.