The Sacramento State faculty is gearing up for kids in the Sacramento region to start another summer semester of the Academic Talent Search program.

The talent search has showcased an array of courses for sixth through ninth graders, and was expanded in 2009 by adding programs for fourth and fifth graders.

This summer's courses include a wide variety of subjects like acting, cartooning, physics, forensic science, cooking, photography and more.

The founder of the program, Terry Thomas, still holds his position as the executive director of the Academic Talent Search.

He said when he founded the talent search program in 1982 there was an obvious need for a special program to meet the needs of kids in the area.

"Lots of students, who are very bright, have little opportunity to develop in regular school settings," Thomas said. "So the academic talent search then gives the brightest students an opportunity to really develop their areas of strength."

When Academic Talent Search started, there were 100 students and three classes. Now, there are approximately 120 courses (40 for fourth and fifth graders, 80 for sixth through ninth graders), and more than 2,000 students who attend every summer, looking to prepare themselves for college life.

"Some of our students are recruited from the finest Ivy league universities throughout the country," Thomas said. "So we have a chance to help them along the way, and that's what (the Academic Talent Search is) all about."

Chris Taylor, who has been a physics and astronomy professor at Sac State for eight years, is going into his fourth year teaching astrobiology for the talent search program. He is a strong supporter of the program and how it helps local kids to begin thinking about their future careers.

"It gets kids to see what college is like, but I also think it's good for (Sac State) because it brings a whole bunch of kids who are local to the area, and lets them see we do cool things here so they don't automatically think, "Well I'm going to go to a UC,'" Taylor said.

To attend, students must take a college ability test to see if they are able to handle the program. The test was taken by more than 6,000 students in Sacramento between January and March of this year.

Many of those involved in the program say one of the most exciting aspects of the program for kids is just experiencing the atmosphere of college life.

"That is a very important part program, they aren't just lined up and moved around like they would be at a typical elementary school," Thomas said. "They enjoy the (University) Union for example, and that's good for the university too because they are bringing their lunch money there."

Current and former Sac State students can be found in the talent search classrooms during summer where they earn a minimum wage as teaching assistants.

Academic Talent Search is a self-supported program on campus, receiving no state, federal or university funding. The classes cost anywhere from $114 to $399 depending on the length of the course and financial aid is available for those who qualify.

Thomas said Academic Talent Search is really appealing to parents who want their gifted kids to go somewhere fun where they can also be challenged.

Michelle Felten, theater and dance professor, has taught in the talent search program for four years; this year, she is teaching acting for the camera. She said she is impressed by the intellect of her students.

"The idea is teachers are not necessarily supposed to bring (the material) down to a younger level," Felten said. "I mean obviously I'm going to give them scenes from movies that are age appropriate, but as far as the way I instruct them and the way I try to help them through things &- I try to really approach it that way."

The kids in the Academic Talent Search are experiencing the same level of course difficulty that Sac State students face.

While many instructors are professors who teach at Sac State the rest of the year, others might just be professionals from the area, like a local attorney who teaches kids about solving crimes.

Academic Talent Search is a program that brings a big change from the teachers' usual routine throughout the year, and Felten said the professors really respond to that shift.

"I was thinking about taking a summer off, but I thought, you know I just really enjoy the class. And it's worthwhile to me. It's a change from what I normally do, so I'm happy to be a part of it," Felten said.

Even after nearly 30 years, Thomas continues to be excited for the program to start up again every summer.

"When you see a student who's totally engaged in what they're doing in class, and there's a whole classroom full of students just like that who are really intent, and the teachers afterwards come back and tell me things like, "Gee, these students do a better job than my regular college students at the same kind of material.' That is pretty rewarding," Thomas said.

Sean Keister can be reached at [email protected]

After years of development, Sacramento State's environmental studies department has been given the go-ahead to issue bachelor of science degrees.

Virginia Matzek, a professor in the program, said she is thrilled about the decision, and said now along with the bachelor of arts degree for environmental studies, they have two great programs.

"Students now have more flexibility to design a major that prepares them for the careers they want to pursue," Matzek said.

The process began four years ago, when Matzek and professor Michelle Stevens were hired. The department wanted to award bachelor of science degrees at that time, but was short on staff. Having a full staff gave it a better justification to create the new degree.

While it was originally announced a year ago at a campus level, the environmental studies department finally gave the green light to issue bachelor of science degrees at the university level by the chancellor's office in Long Beach.

Further research and information had to be provided for the need of this degree at Sac State in order for the California State University system to give the OK, but it was finally approved as of this semester.

Environmental studies chair Dudley Burton was the spokesman presenting the plan to committees in 2009.

All committees approved the proposal and Burton said it is a necessary progression of the department.

"I think it's important that we provide this opportunity for our students," Burton said. "There are lots of these jobs available for students in this area and it's certainly appropriate that the pathway to getting those jobs be as straightforward as possible."

In both the bachelor's of arts and science, Burton said both groups of students would take the same basic environmental courses and complete their senior thesis. Those in the bachelor of science program would have a wide variety of scientific courses as part of their curriculum, such as oceanography and field botany.

The main difference is now each environmental studies degree would be able to stand on its own with enough units, so studentswon't have to take a minor.

Professor Greg Popejoy is in his fourth year as a part-time instructor and worked for the Department of Conservation for 20 years. He said this decision is long overdue and can provide more for students.

"Obviously it's more science oriented," Popejoy said. "With the B.A. side, obviously, you can go more into policy and planning issues. But with a science degree, you can go in the lab, you can do field ecology, field biology &- there are all sorts of jobs, especially with global climate change happening. There is a need for scientists."

Jill Goff is a senior environmental studies major who will graduate in December with a bachelor of science degree. She thinks getting a bachelor of science as opposed to a bachelor of arts will allow her to better compete in the job market.

"I think it makes the environmental studies program a more well-rounded department," Goff said.

Moving forward, Burton said the department's main concern is budget cuts. As a result, certain classes students need may only be offered every other year.

"Right now nobody knows what's going to happen," Popejoy said. "Courses are being cut, staff is being cut; right now our department is very thin. We are down to two full-time people running the whole department and adding new classes, and a new major while we're doing it. So they need somebody who's going to teach these classes this semester and we're going to relying more on the part-time folks."

Many students were counting on the bachelor of science degree when it first was announced a year ago, but Burton said the department is doing what it can to assist those students who graduated before it was officially offered.

"Many, in fact, were disappointed that it didn't happen quicker, but the administration is allowing us to work with students who graduated in December to redo their degree to see if they can meet the requirements for the B.S.," Burton said. "Students who graduated longer ago than that will be disappointed that they cannot get the B.S., but I have agreed to write a letter for them if that would help them."

Burton said the state hiring boards have become more strenuous, which is what prompted the department to seek the bachelor of science program.

"If they say you need a B.S., then you need a B.S.," he said.

Sunny Kandola is a senior who is working on his bachelor of arts in environmental studies. He said it does make a difference which degree someone gets.

"It matters in what job you're going for," he said. "If you want a B.S., you are doing a lot more daily research."

Popejoy said this is an important step because of how expansive the new degree is, giving students a boost in the green-jobs market.

"This will be good because it's beyond just regular science, like biology and chemistry," Popejoy said. "The folks coming out of this program will have this background in environmental issues, as well as a better understanding of the bigger environmental picture."

Sean Keister can be reached at [email protected]