Most students may wonder how traffic lights work, how bridges are designed, and even how 3-D is created. At this year’s National Summer Transportation Institute (NSTI), the Tennessee State University College of Engineering, Technology and Computer Science gave youth, grades 10 through 12, an inside look at how the transportation industry makes our everyday world function.

The four-week residential program, funded by a $63,000 grant from the Federal Highway Administration was administered by the Tennessee Department of Transportation Civil Rights Office.  The program introduced 17 students to safety, water, land and air transportation systems. The goal of the institute was to spark an interest in engineering and technology professions and facilitate exposure to related careers among minority and female students through various activities.

From highway design and aircraft performance to marine cargo handling and vehicle safety, the NSTI participants became first-hand witnesses to problem solving techniques created by engineers through transportation laboratory experiences and field trips to the Metropolitan Nashville Airport, Marshall Space and Rocket Center, Old Hickory Power Plant, Music City Star Headquarters, and Tennessee Department of Transportation Smartway Management Center.

Participants also interacted with students, professors and mentors in the engineering field while participating in an ACT preparation course and enhancement courses in algebra, geometry, and computer science.

Pictured: NSTI participants visit with Air Force jet pilots at the Nashville Airport.

Ninth graders at the Pearl Cohn Ninth Grade academy will have a live Skype video chat across the world with ninth graders in the Soweto, Gauteng, South Africa on Thursday May 19, 2011, 8 a.m.

The dialogue, “A Day In The Life of A Ninth Grader in Nashville and Soweto,” hosted by the Tennessee State University Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement will feature a discussion on culture, geography and technology to give the students an experience beyond the textbook.

With the design of a Geographic Information Sciences (GIS) computer lab, TSU’s Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement devoted $15,000 in grant funds to the Pearl Cohn Ninth Grade Academy to upgrade educational and technology access with computers and printers. Since the development, more than 100 students have participated in the lab project with lessons about the Nashville floods of 2010, tornado spotting, and scholarly research skills using Microsoft Access, Word, Excel, GIS mapping skills, blogging and Wikispace development.

The Skype video chat will take place in room 156 at the Pearl Cohn Ninth Grade Academy in McKissack School.

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Region IV Regional Administrator Ed Jennings, Jr. in a ceremony today awarded to Tennessee State University Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Dennis Gendron a ceremonial check for $789,031 as one of three national awards totaling $2.4 million. These HUD grants are awarded to historically black colleges and universities to help revitalize neighborhoods and promote affordable housing near their campuses.

The University will use the funding to launch “Go Green North Nashville” – a program providing energy evaluations of 50 homes and energy improvement rehabilitations to 30 low and moderate-income persons in the North Nashville community. This is the fourth year TSU has received HUD grants to assist in revitalizing the target area.

“Tennessee State University is grateful to receive an additional installment of HUD funding to further accomplish our mission in revitalizing and rehabilitating areas of the community in which our campus thrives. We know that this program and the partnerships established will provide the financial incentives needed to impact the residents of North Nashville and offer our faculty, staff and students the hands-on experience of service learning and continued involvement in civic engagement,” said Gendron.

The funding announced today is provided through HUD’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Program, which is designed to help these institutions address community development needs in their communities.

“Historically black colleges and universities play a unique role in helping to revitalize local communities,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan.  “HUD is proud to be partnering with these colleges and universities to help them improve neighborhoods and stimulate economic development around their campuses.”

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program is one of several initiatives administered by HUD’s Office of University Partnerships (OUP).  Established in 1994, OUP is a catalyst for partnering colleges and universities with their communities in an effort to address pressing local problems.

“These historically black colleges and universities are cultivating young innovative minds and play an essential role in strengthening local communities,” said Ed Jennings, Jr. HUD Region IV Regional Administrator. “We are so proud of the opportunity to partner with these institutions in this most worthwhile endeavor.”

Embarking upon 100 years as a major staple of the North Nashville community, TSU continues to discover ways to serve the residents with their current needs of sustainability. Ginger Hausser, assistant director for TSU’s Center for Service Learning & Civic Engagement and principal investigator of the HUD grant, believes this program will support long-term homeowners who are committed to staying in the target area.

“Go Green North Nashville is a major effort we are excited to launch with the support of HUD and our local partners. We will begin with identifying home rehab projects for homeowners who need improvements up to $9,000 to improve the energy efficiency of their property. We will work with Conservations Services Group, neighborhood leaders, churches, and nonprofits to identify potential homeowners who would most benefit from this program,” said Hausser.

Partnerships with the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, Nashville/Davidson County, Hands On Nashville, Conservation Services Group, David Lipscomb University, and Vanderbilt University will serve in a collective community effort to accomplish the goals of the program.

TSU engineering students will be trained to conduct energy evaluations and participate in home rehabilitation work.  Additionally, students, faculty and staff will utilize a prototype thermal energy goggle developed by the dean of TSU College of Engineering, Technology and Computer Science, Dr. S. Keith Hargrove, to identify heat loss using visual, digital imagery.

Tennessee State University Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Dennis Gendron

HUD Region IV Regional Administrator Ed Jennings, Jr.

Congressman Jim Cooper presenting check to Gendron along with Jennnings

Ginger Hausser, assistant director of TSU’s Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement, along with Cooper and Jennings

Dr. Deena Sue Fuller, director of the TSU Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement along with Hausser, Cooper and Jennings

(L to R) Nekya Young, Dr. Deena Sue Fuller, Ed Jennings, Roni Jarvis, and Ginger Hausser

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Southeast Regional Administrator Ed Jennings Jr, will be joined by Tennessee State University Provost and Executive Vice President Dr. Dennis Gendron in the announcement of HUD Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) grant funding to improve energy efficiency, help revitalize neighborhoods, and promote affordable housing.

WHO: HUD Southeast Regional Administrator Ed Jennings, Jr.

TSU Provost and Executive Vice President Dr. Dennis Gendron

HUD Nashville Field Office Director Keith Richardson

HUD Memphis Field Office Director John Gemmill

Nashville Mayor’s Office of Sustainability

WHAT: HUD will present a ceremonial check to TSU for $789,031 as one of three national awards totaling $2.4 million. The University’s Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement will utilize the funds to launch “Go Green North Nashville” – a program providing energy evaluations of 50 homes and energy improvement rehabilitations to 30 low- and-moderate income persons in the North Nashville community. This is the fourth year TSU has received HUD grants to assist the North Nashville community.

WHEN: Monday, May 16, 2011, 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Tennessee State University

McWherter Administration Building (First Floor – Atrium)

3500 John A. Merritt Boulevard Nashville, TN 37209