back-to-school WANTED: DREAMERS, VISIONARIES, AND FREE SPIRITS. Lawrence Technological University isn't for just anyone. We want the restless thinkers, innovators, and artists who will create the designs, businesses. and technological breakthroughs of tomorrow. If you believe that everything is possible, and that "possible" is everything, we want you at LTU. Visit liu.edu/applyfree now to have your Fall 2012 application fee waived! Classes start August 29. POSSIBLE IS EVERYTHING. I avitericc 21000 kille!-;t Tell Mile Sotitlitickl, MI 48075-1058 800.225.5588 I adini:3!..,iiiti:.;0 . 11ti etlii www.LTU.edu ooded hrilier. THE MUSICAL. ONE WEEK ONLY! Fisher Theatre • Nov. 27---Dec. 2 Tickets: Fisher Box Office, ticketmaster.com & 800-982-2787 Info: BroadwayinDetroit.com , 313-872-1000 & JekyllAndHydeMusical.com Groups (12+): GroupstillroadwayinDetrolt.cont (subject line: Jekyll & Hyde) or 313-871-1132 I 2 c_rt - 28 f3POADWAy DE1 ROIT 2012-2013 SEASON August 16 = 2012 sponsered 6y • Passion For Physics Major fellowship will help Kate Miller attain her teaching goal. Marielle Temkin JN Intern 0 thy 34 people across the country were accepted to the Knowles Science Teaching Foundation (KSTF) this year, and Kate Miller of Beverly Hills is one. The 22-year-old is now working toward her master's of sci- ence education at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. The University of Michigan gradu- ate has a passion for physics and wants to impart her love of the sub- ject as a high school physics teacher. "My love of physics started in high school," Miller said, "when I realized the connection between gymnas- tics and physics." She started doing gymnastics at age 5 and continued through her undergrad years. "I'm very sad I'm not doing it anymore, but my body is probably pretty happy with me." Miller heard of KTSF through one of her supervising professors at U-M. "He told me it's a great opportunity for teachers to get experience," she said. "What initially drew me to apply is the financial support KTSF offers its fellows, but once I learned more about the program through reading about it and then through the interview process, I realized what a strong community the fellows have and how incredibly valuable that is." The fellows receive financial sup- port for their tuition and a monthly stipend while working toward a teaching credential, in addition to professional support. The foundation supports high school teachers and those working toward their teaching certificates in the math and science disciplines. "One of the requirements to main- tain the fellowship [of $175,000] for up to five years is that we teach the majority of our classes in the disci- pline we were selected for in a high school in the United States," Miller said. "So, I need to teach a majority of physics classes even though I'll be certified in math, too. "All of the support offered by the foundation has been so inspiration- al;' Miller said, "and being in a com- munity of science and math teachers who have a vision of what education should be like has been amazing. Kate Miller "But getting back into the swing of things [since July] has been hard because I took a year off between undergrad and the KTSF. It's great to be here, but it's definitely been a lot to jump into." She chose Penn, she says, because "its teacher education program focuses on social justice in urban schools, something with which I have little prior experience, so I thought it would be the best option for me." Miller, who grew up attending Temple Emanu-El in Oak Park, is cur- rently working at a summer school and will be assigned to student teach in two classrooms in the fall — a physics class and a math class. "Kate is exactly the kind of indi- vidual for whom this fellowship was created," said Dr. Nicole Gillespie, KSTF director for teaching fellow- ships. "If we want to improve sci- ence, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and reverse our nation's abysmal teacher retention rate, we need to support excellent STEM teachers like Kate so that they remain in the profession to become outstanding teachers and change agents in education." Miller has such a passion and drive for teaching physics because "physics can ignite an innate curios- ity about the world that adults lose over time," she said. "Going through the curiosity process of why things work as they do and encouraging that kind of thought, that's really what I'm looking forward to bringing to my classroom." El