RHS Students Take Part in KSU Aquaculture Grant

Russellville Junior/Senior High School is collaborating with Kentucky State University (KSU) to establish a strong Aquaculture/Aquaponics program that promotes 21st Century STEM skills for the students it serves.  With this grant, students are learning to raise Tilapia and garden vegetables, while closely monitoring water quality, fish behavior, and plant growth.  “We want students to be actively engaged in ‘learning by doing’, ‘seeing’, and ‘being involved’ in authentic project-based aquaculture tasks that help increase their understanding in STEM disciplines,” says Ken Thompson, Research and Extension Associate at KSU’s College of Agriculture, Food Science, and Sustainable Systems.  Mr. Thompson continued, "Our job is to give students the opportunity to make connections to their real-world experiences throughout the learning process.  They will be exposed to phenomena that they may not have ever encountered before and will be presented with ways to engage in understanding.”  Aquaculture will be an increasing part of our future food supply.  The grant has afforded RHS students not only an opportunity to raise Tilapia and plants in the classroom but to visit the KSU Aquaculture Research Facility to take part in the annual paddlefish spawning, aquaponics, fish disease microbiology, and fish and prawn feeding.  "Pure excitement and dedication are what I see with my students”, says RHS Biology teacher, Tanya Mullen.  "My students have taken full responsibility for every water quality test, feeding, water exchange, feed conversion ratio calculations, and fish behavior monitoring.  I have full engagement, and that is exactly what every teacher desires to see in his/her students.  This is an opportunity of a lifetime for my students.  We are grateful to be a part of the KSU grant and appreciate the support of Ken Thompson, Janelle Hager, Mason Crawford, and other KSU staff.  What an amazing day with an amazing group of young people.  Aquaculture at its best!"  This program will continue for another 4 years.  The following students participated:  Hannah Alford, Rilee Boisseau, Maggie Cockrell, Austin Cross, Anabel Cruz, Trynity Dukes, Karlee Elrod, Emma Gwynette, Diedre Hester, Dixie Hopkins, Ashton Jackson, Kenyon Kerr, Annalee Leeman, Ta'Kyah Morrow, Arianna Nickell, Katie Paul, David Perez, Chloe Shumate, Luke Skipworth, Abigail Stogner, Kam Terry, and Jamie Wells.