Cutting Edge Biomedical Sciences Program Provides Students with Experience and College Credit

As February comes to an end, so does National Career and Technical Education Month.  Carroll County’s Career and Tech Center (CCCT) has always offered cutting edge programming, but its latest addition, Project Lead the Way biomedical science (PLTW) is offering students real world experience, as well as college credit.

Brendan Gallagher earned a degree in Microbiology and Molecular Biology from James Madison University and ran two pharmaceutical labs before coming to Westminster to take on the task of implementing the PLTW program in Carroll County.

Gallagher gave a presentation outlining the program at the last Board of Education meeting. PLTW classes started at CCCT in January of 2009. The courses offer high school juniors and seniors real world experience through hands-on learning, with the overall goal of preparing students for college level science and math programs. At the same time the curriculum gives them a glimpse of the career fields that might follow from such coursework – especially in the bio-sciences and medical fields.

“I had a student who graduated from this program and when she went to college, she was already doing what they were doing in her college level classes,” Gallagher said.

“Most of these kids will have to go to college and get a degree in their field. But these kids will hit the ground running when they get to college, they will be ready to do their own research which will increase their opportunities to get published,” he added.

The program started with 18 students and two years later, the number has nearly doubled to 35. The students realize the benefits of being in a class that offers its share of challenges, but also prepares them for the next step in their educational journey.

Katie Ozgun is a junior at Westminster High School. The daughter of a local physician, Ozgun says she also wants to be a doctor and this class will help her as she prepares to enter rigorous college courses. Katie likes the class because of the frequent labs and interactive activities.

“Mr. Gallagher is great, he loves to vary the work we do,” Katie said. “I like that he can tell us from his experience how we will actually use this information in real life.”

Josh Hadden, a junior at Westminster High School said that  he wants “to do something in the medical field, something with sports or sports medicine.” He said that as fun as the class can be, it is definitely challenging.

“It’s hard but it’s good experience,” he added.

PLTW Biomedical Sciences is a national organization and according to their website, is devoted to preparing students to be the most innovative and productive leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and to make meaningful, pioneering contributions to our world.

Carroll County purchased the curriculum from PLTW and is the first school in the state to earn certification from the national organization and the accrediting school. Students who successfully pass the class earn transferable college credits from Stevenson University.

Following Gallagher’s presentation to board members at the last Board of Education meeting, School Superintendent Steve Guthrie said that in spite of several years of budget cuts, Carroll County is still working to bring  cutting edge programs to students.