Spotlight on eCYBERMISSION Alumni from Leesburg High School in Florida

“Organized chaos” is the term Team Advisor Robyn Deighton from Leesburg High School in Fl. affectionately uses to describe her ninth grade science classroom. The classroom is filled with students excited to learn about science, and who hang on to Deighton’s every word.

Deighton has been an eCYBERMISSION Team Advisor since inception of the program in 2002. She is a fan of the eCYBERMISSION competition over traditional science fairs because she is able to cover the objectives, but students work on the projects on their own, which is how she says, they really learn science.

“Whether the students have a great idea or a mediocre idea, they still have to follow the scientific method process from start to finish, and articulate what they are doing and why, throughout the project,” said Deighton.

“Students do not always “get it” if an experiment is designed for them. eCYBERMISSION breeds creativity and a strong work ethic, while giving the students the freedom to learn in a way that means something to them.”

As the classroom of ninth graders buzzed with activity two of Deighton’s former students dropped by to chat. Erika Hibbard and Krystal Baker, seniors at Leesburg High School, took the regional second place award in the 2004-2005 eCYBERMISSION competition.

Their eCYBERMISSION project was focused on saving the manatees, an endangered species in their home state. The students adopted a manatee, which they named Rosie, and created pamphlets for elementary school students and parents. They also created coloring books for the students and a pamphlet on manatee protection tips for boaters.

Through their successes with eCYBERMISSION, and their strong relationship with a science teacher that touched their lives, both students are pursuing careers in the medical-science field.

Erika is hoping to be accepted to University South Florida (USF) to study cancer. She hopes to become a chemotherapy nurse or a nurse practitioner. Krystal hopes to become a Physician’s Assistant.

This is only one example of how a Team Advisor has helped to change the future of her students. Do you have a similar story you can share with eCYBERMISSION? We want to hear what your eCYBERMISSION alumni students are now doing!

 Team Advisor Robyn Deighton with her winning 
eCYBERMISSION team in 2005

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