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Faculty, staff, and graduate students from Alabama A&M University visited local and regional high schools in August and December 2015 to provide information to high school teachers and high school students about careers in food science/food safety.

25 High school students participated in a food science/food safety-centered all-day workshop (August, 2015)

Graduate and undergraduate students who aided in facilitating the high school students’ workshop (August, 2015)

Faculty and students preparing for the workshop and lecture at Sparkman High School for their Career Day (December 2015)

Faculty and staff at Whites Creek High School (August 2015)

Eight schools were visited, and featured above are Whites Creek High School (Nashville, TN) and Sparkman High School (Huntsville, AL). Not photographed are Colombia High School (Huntsville, AL), Buckhorn High School (Huntsville, AL), Madison County High School (Huntsville, AL), Bob Jones High School (Madison, AL), Fairfield High School (Birmingham, AL), Ramsey High School (Huntsville, AL) and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

Forty high school students attended NACEE (North Alabama Center for Educational Excellence) Student Day on Saturday, April 18th.  Students were introduced to Food Science, Food Microbiology, and Food Safety.  Dr. Martha Verghese and graduate students Matt Reid and Fredreana Hester from Alabama A&M University gave presentations and led hands-on activities.

Fifteen high school students and 10 undergraduates (Freshman and Sophomores)  participated in the USDA summer program at Alabama A&M University from June 1st to July 2^nd  for 5 hours per day. They participated in various hands-on activities related to food science and completed group projects (2-3/group). The project included Food Microbiology/Food safety, Food Chemistry, Meat Science, Food Analysis, Product development, Food Processing, and Food Biochemistry.

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Some of the High school and undergraduate students who participated in the USDA Summer Scholar’s program (June 30, 2015)

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Undergraduate students attending a career planning workshop as a part of the USDA Summer Scholar’s program (June 3, 2015)

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Food Processing project presentation (June 30, 2015)

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Food Microbiology/Safety project presentation (June 30, 2015)

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Product Development project presentation (June 30, 2015)

On April 24^th and May 6th, 2015, 120 students from Bob Jones High School participated in food safety education sessions hosted by Alabama A&M University. The major objectives for the sessions included:

 Performance Objectives:

1. Identify the government agencies that regulate specific food products
2. Define outbreak.
3. Identify ways that food can become contaminated
4. List and describe the 4 C’s of Food Safety
5. Distinguish between three types of food safety hazards
6. Explain the relationships between food safety hazards and foodborne illness.
7. Identify common pathogens that cause food borne illness and recognize symptoms for each.
8. Identify mode of transmission/contamination of microorganisms
    

Students were given a pre and post-test on questions related to the above mentioned objectives. Results shown below.