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For Immediate Release, December 2003
For comment, contact Brenda Buschbacher at (630) 907-5033

SBC HELPS LAUNCH STUDENT LEADERSHIP OUTREACH PROJECT AT IMSA

AURORA – Through a generous $25,000 grant from the SBC Foundation, the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy® (IMSA) has embarked on a project to enhance and share its Student Leadership Development program and “Synergy” ethics initiative with Illinois high schools.

In the IMSA Synergy program, students participate in monthly peer facilitated discussions about ethical issues based on current events. The goal of the program is to have students become more socially aware and gain a better understanding of the process of ethical decision-making.

The SBC grant has enabled IMSA to strengthen its own Synergy program by supporting a weeklong leadership training seminar, a leadership symposium and the creation of the Synergy SBC Outreach Project. The highlight of the project is a student-produced multi-media CD-ROM that contains a guide for Illinois schools to create their own Synergy program. CD-ROM topics include how to plan and conduct sessions, examples of good facilitation techniques, ideas for topics, and other resources on leadership and ethics.

The Student Leadership Development program at IMSA provides students with unique opportunities, in and out of the classroom, to become strong ethical leaders in and for the Academy, community and world. Students explore belief systems, values and the

process of ethical decision-making and learn how to lead others, create positive change and promote the sense of belonging to a community.

“This kind of peer-to-peer student leadership development is unique,” says Robert Hernandez, IMSA's Director of Student Leadership Development. “SBC has enabled us to fully realize our mission by using technology to reach and enhance education statewide."

Located in Aurora , Illinois , the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy® is an internationally- recognized pioneering educational institution created by the State to develop talent and stimulate excellence in teaching and learning in mathematics, science and technology. IMSA's advanced residential college preparatory program enrolls 650 academically talented Illinois students in grades 10-12. More than 17,000 teachers and 26,000 students in Illinois and beyond have benefited from services of The Center@IMSA, the Academy unit that provides statewide professional development and enrichment programs. IMSA serves the people of Illinois through innovative instructional programs, public and private partnerships, policy leadership and action research.