Medical Mall program helps blossoming Brinkley students to Regional Science Fair | Community Spirit

Submitted by the Jackson Medical Mall Foundation:

Jazmine and Devon Hobson are much like the specimens they studied for their school science project. Jazmine wanted to find out how water is circulated in plants. “So, I asked myself ‘How does celery absorb water’ for my project called Quench Celery Thirst.”

Her brother, Devon, decided to determine how roots grow through his project, Leaves Up, Roots Down. It was a baffling task for the sixth grade students at Brinkley Middle School, but they received lots of support in finding the answers to their questions through a program at the Jackson Medical Mall.

“Like all of our other students, Jazmine and Devon enjoy the special attention they get from teachers and staff here,” said Erin Shirley, who is the Assistant Director for New Focus for Youth Intervention Program.

Shirley says Jazmine and Devon are very quiet and shy students, but they began to blossom after a few weeks in New Focus, an after-school program that addresses subject-areas students need help with as well as development skills. “They’ve come out of their shells and they take initiative to do their work,” said Shirley, much like how the roots grew in Devon’s project and the celery turned red from the food-colored water in Jazmine’s.

The Hobsons almost did not make it into the Program. “A coordinator from another after-school program in the area met with us about allowing them to attend our program because she was concerned about them continuing their academic success,” said Shirley. The students attended the Neighborhood Christian Center, but it ends at fifth grade. The coordinator heard about New Focus and wanted them to be a part of it since they were moving to middle school. They have been attending the Program for about 5 months.

Jazmine and Devon were two of 53 students that presented projects at their school science fair. They each placed first in their categories, earning the opportunity to compete in the Mississippi Region II Science and Engineering Fair scheduled for March 22-23, 2012 in the Athletic & Assembly Center at Jackson State University.

The future nurse and attorney said they enjoyed completing their project and finding out if their hypothesis indeed was true. “I really appreciate Mrs. Spann taking the pictures of me checking on the seeds for my board,” said Devon, who learned that if you do not plant a seed the proper way then you risk not having a fruitful harvest. The seed he planted facing down in his cup of soil did not grow, but the seed planted facing up rooted.

“Mrs. Green helped me type all my materials to put on my board,” said Jazmine. Mrs. Mae Green and Mrs. Carleaner Spann are both teachers at New Focus. 2

Jazmine also learned that first impressions mean a lot. Dr. Ollye Shirley, the Program’s Director, showed Jazmine how to clean and paint her nails so that she would look her best during her presentation.

“Now, she takes care of her nails regularly. She is so proud of her nails now. Simple things like this make a huge impact on a child and helps them in the long run,” Shirley added.

Whether they win or lose at the regional fair, Jazmine and Devon are success stories equipped with meaningful tools in tow for their flourishing future.