IMSA MEETS DEMAND FOR NEXT GENERATION LEADERS
For Immediate Release, Press Release
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IMSA® MEETS DEMAND FOR NEXT GENERATION LEADERS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
AURORA – Netscape, PayPal and YouTube have one aspect in common – their founders are alumni of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy® (IMSA). As it celebrates its 20th Anniversary, IMSA (www.imsa.edu) has developed a reputation for producing leaders, who through scientific and technological advances, are changing the way we work, learn and live.
The national need for more specialized schools such as IMSA is clear. The National Academies report, Rising Above the Gathering Storm, and the National Governor’s Association: Innovation America report call for increased commitments in scientific research and in mathematics, science and technology education programs. Their recommendations include the creation of more schools specialized in mathematics, science and technology.
With a 20-year stellar track record, IMSA is testimony that specialized advanced programs can serve the nation by developing talent and leadership in mathematics, science and technology. IMSA’s graduates, the oldest of whom are in their 30s, already have made significant contributions to the world including breakthrough discoveries, extraordinary innovations and new start-up companies.
IMSA Class of 1991 graduates and brothers Mike and Rob McCool were on the team at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign that created Mosaic, the Internet Browser used to start Netscape. In addition, Rob McCool is the original creator of the Apache HTTP Web server, which now runs approximately two-thirds of the Internet Web servers.
PayPal, an eBay Company, has revolutionized the way people do business on the Internet. IMSA alumni Yu Pan ’95 and Russ Simmons ’95 were two of the six founding members of PayPal who greatly contributed to the company’s worldwide success.
Pan now works in engineering and product development at the hottest Web site on the Internet, YouTube (www.youtube.com). YouTube’s co-founder Steve Chen also attended IMSA. YouTube receives 100 million hits every day with 65,000 new videos posted to the site daily.
IMSA Class of 1996 graduate Gaorav Gupta identified a set of genes that could predict if breast cancer will spread to the lungs and just how aggressive the disease would be. The findings could someday help physicians to better target therapies for more aggressive types of breast cancer. IMSA Class of 1997 graduate Andrea Croll is an engineer with Hamilton Sundstrand in Rockford where she works on the electric power generation system for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, an all-weather, aircraft carrier-based tactical Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft manufactured by Northrop Grumman.
IMSA’s strong returns also include service to more than 52,000 Illinois students and 24,000 Illinois educators. Through award-winning statewide programs, IMSA helps teachers to keep pace with the latest developments in mathematics, science and technology instruction. It also ensures that young students, especially the historically underrepresented, have opportunities to excel in mathematics and science. For example, IMSA Excellence 2000+ (E2K) is an after-school enrichment program which serves hundreds of middle school students in Illinois. Selected as one of the “Best Practice” programs at the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Diversity Forum hosted by Bayer Corporation in Washington, D.C., IMSA E2K was cited for having “a proven track record of helping girls and underrepresented minorities to participate and achieve in STEM.”
Given the national recommendations for expanding statewide specialty educational institutions of mathematics, science and technology to help secure a brighter economic future for America, Marshall thanked Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, the Illinois General Assembly and People of Illinois for being "20 years ahead of the curve." "The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy has had a unique record of achievement and it simply would not have been possible without the support of Governor Blagojevich, the Illinois General Assembly, its leaders and the public," Marshall said. "This is a testament to their forward-thinking perspective and continued support."
The internationally recognized Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy® (IMSA) develops creative, ethical leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. As a teaching and learning laboratory created by the State of Illinois, IMSA enrolls academically talented Illinois students (grades 10-12) in its advanced, residential college preparatory program, and it serves thousands of educators and students in Illinois and beyond through innovative instructional programs that foster imagination and inquiry. IMSA also advances education through research, groundbreaking ventures and strategic partnerships. (www.imsa.edu)