Community unites to introduce career options to students
MIT program is model for one-day event
BY MARY LANCASTER INDEPENDENT WRITER
Not everyone knows in their youth what interests them and where their aptitude lies, considerations that are important when thinking about a career. Taking a cue from the longstanding Massachusetts Institute of Technology's annual "SPLASH!" program introducing students to a variety of ideas, next Friday, the first "SPLASH! NHS Nantucket" program will take place and fill the entire school day.

High School Council member Holly McGowan and former council member Nini LaFarge both have children who attended the MIT program, held in November and led by MIT students who teach about everything from math to creating objects from duct tape to chocolate sculpture to how to fall asleep in class without getting in trouble.

With enthusiastic support and assistance from faculty, the school administration and community members, the two have pulled together 50 selections approximately 400 freshmen through seniors will choose from tomorrow for three, one-hour blocks on May 23. Marilyn Barrett has served as faculty liaison signing up teachers interested in sharing what they enjoy and excell in, and Joan Ottinger, as community liaison, has enlisted the time and talent of scores of local residents.

"It's an opportunity to offer something with no grades, no homework and no requirements except interest and curiosity," said LaFarge. "It's meant to be an exploration. The name SPLASH signifies getting your feet wet in a subject - to dive in. It is a day unto itself."

Following the suit of a number of high schools across the country, the island's program is a mixture of potential job ideas, entertaining activities and instructive field trips. Some segments will be taught by NHS faculty and many by volunteers from the community who will supply necessary materials. All students and presenters will be furnished with a bag lunch and will complete evaluation forms at the close of the day.

"It's really just meant to be fun," said McGowan, "and it's nice for the kids to know who is out there and what or who will inspire them. We were so delighted to see how welcoming people were and how many wanted to participate in this event. The response has been really positive."

Among the scope of topics students will choose from, listing their first, second and third choice per block because some have limited capacity, are:

• Nantucket Outdoors with Vernon Laux of the Linda Loring Nature Foundation. Laux will take students to the UMass Field Station where they will examine plants, animals, mushrooms, butterflies, birds and more, and he will show them how to use a digital camera through a spotting scope. At the end of the session, students will create a nature journal.

• Art En Plein Aire with David Lazarus will also take place at the UMass Field Station where students will watch him demonstrate oil and watercolor painting, then try it themselves with his guidance.

• Bouncing Terrorism with Ramell Ross and Michael Evans will explore how they set up basketball games in Belfast, Northern Ireland, to unite rival Catholic and Protestant teenagers who were raised during the violence created by the Irish Republican Army and Ulster Defense Association.

• The Buzz About Beijing's Olympic Controvery with Angela Kelly utilizes interactive activities, a multi-media presentation and discussion to look at China's rising power,

its treatment of human rights, why this

year's Olympics based there is causing an uproar and more.

• Recycling Yourself: A Cursory Course in Organ Transplantation with Dr. John West will use slides as part of his instruction on how vital organs are taken from a donor and implanted in a recipient. He will also give a history of the field.

• Introduction to Web Design with Georgan Charnes will show students how to create a Web page, image handling and page publishing, all geared to beginners who will receive individual attention.

• Acting with a Theme and Purpose with Jordana Fleischut will lead students through various lessons, the practice of improvisation and show how to build theatre performance characters using the Miser technique.

McGowan and LaFarge, who are working to form a parent/teacher/community partnership under the umbrella of "SPLASH! NHS Nantucket," are encouraged that this special day will become an annual, local event and noted that it meets a major component of the school system's strategic plan to use the island as a campus.

"We've already had people approach us about volunteering for the

next SPLASH," said LaFarge. I