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Washoe County School District Trustee Visits STARBASE Sierra

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Thomas Cox
  • 152nd Airlift WIng

Earlier this month, Col. Evan Kirkwood, 152nd Airlift Wing Commander, met with Trustee Beth Smith, Washoe County School Board District D, and discussed possible partnering opportunities to include between the airlift wing and the surrounding schools within the vicinity of the Nevada Air National Guard Base in Reno, Nevada.

This meeting consisted of the Department of Defense’s STARBASE program, and during the visit, Kirkwood, along with Ms. Tiffany Young, northern Nevada’s STARBASE program director, were able to showcase the opportunities already being offered to Title 1 schools within District D.

“As the Wing Commander of the 152nd Airlift Wing, and husband of a teacher who taught at a Washoe County Title 1 school, it is my passion to provide a positive and encouraging future to our at-risk / at-promise youth,” said Kirkwood. “I am a lifelong member of the community, and I look forward to a continued friendship with Trustee Smith as well as all members of the Washoe County school district as we seek greater ways on how the Airmen of the 152nd Airlift Wing can better serve our community.”

Created in 1991, STARBASE’s primary focus is to foster a passion of learning in the field of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in fifth graders attending Title 1 schools. The students will participate in a five-day curriculum with 25 hours of academic instruction and multiple challenging “hands-on, minds-on” STEM activities. The students will also get the opportunity to interact with military personnel to explore different career paths and observe STEM being applied first-hand.

STARBASE is being overseen and managed by the State of Nevada Office of the Military and utilizes civilian educators that lead the weeklong courses.

To find out more information about DoD STARBASE, visit www.dodstarbase.org.