For nearly 100 years, Xavier University of Louisiana has served the underserved and undervalued as the nation’s only historically Black and Catholic institution. Known for its prowess in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) sphere, the university is a relentless advocate for health equity and, for decades, has developed programs and initiatives aimed at not only improving education access at the collegiate level but also the elevation of the K-12 to college pipeline. Dr. Ouloide Yannick Goue, assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Computer Sciences at Xavier, is heading one such program, Saturday Morning Science (XULA-SMS), to continue Xavier’s tradition of educating the next generation to become leaders and agents of positive change. Partially funded by a grant from Gilead Foundation’s Creating Possible Fund™, the program is free for participating students. 

Assisted by Dr. Michael Ogunbumni and a dynamic team of dedicated STEM majors at Xavier, Dr. Goue looks forward to the first XULA-SMS session of the New Year on January 27. Read on to learn more about the program in a reflection prepared by Dr. Goue and gain insight into the importance of reaching young minds long before they ever step foot on a college campus.

Stimulating and Elevating Young Minds on a Saturday

The desire to train a scientifically literate body of K-12 students urges the need for the development of adapted programs. These programs must be capable of stimulating and engaging these K-12 students in the culture of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). Such programs aim to empower students to make informed decisions about their studies and career options. In response to this pressing need, the Physics and Computer Science Department at Xavier University of Louisiana developed XULA-SMS.decisions over their course of studies and career options. In response to this pressing need, the Physics and Computer Science department at Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) has developed the

Xavier University of Louisiana is a Historically Black College and University with rich experience transforming pre-college STEM education by leveraging various on-campus research in biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, data science and computer science. Thus, XULA-SMS has grown in a favorable ecosystem as it continues to nurture K -12 students and empower them to become citizens who leverage knowledge to support and sustain a more just and humane society. Ultimately, XULA-SMS seeks to strengthen the desire of students to pursue advanced studies in STEAM; impress on students a better understanding of the STEAM culture; equip students with skills to become successful in science and engineering; empower students to be able to synthesize and compare competing data sets; and encourage students to develop intellectual openness.

In its design, the XULA-SMS seeks to immerse middle and high school students in the STEAM world through hands-on education and career exploration activities. These activities, which are project-based, are conceived to help them discover their interests and stimulate their talents and passions in a fun atmosphere. Currently, the program is in its fourth year. At its inception in 2018, the program was led by Dr. Morewell Gasseller, assistant professor of physics, and Xavier’s Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Anderson Sunda-Meya. During these years, the students engaged in the same activities irrespective of their level.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the program experienced a hiatus before resuming in the Spring semester of 2023. As the program grows and we prepare for the Spring session, the participating students will be placed in two groups based on their academic levels: middle and high school.

The high school students work together in groups of two to three on activities requiring three to four sessions to complete. Each of these activities will lead the high schoolers to develop a prototype. Middle school-level participants work in groups of 2 to 3 to complete a different project by the end of each session. At the end of the program, both middle and high school students will attend a symposium where they will present posters on one of their projects. The posters will be judged, and the top three will give an oral presentation.

Xavier’s faculty and staff who are parents of eligible pre-college students and parents of students from local high and middle schools are encouraged to grasp this experiential educational opportunity that the XULA-SMS offers.

For more information and to register, please send an email to ogoue@xula.edu.