Academic Bowl Encourages Young Students To Dream Big

03.16.2022

Richardson Independent School District teammates (from left) Sedric Finnion II, Yonas Amare and Milton Osabuchien, all from Skyview Elementary School, put their catapult design’s grape-launching ability to the test at the African American Male Academic Bowl at UT Dallas.

At the African American Male Academic Bowl, sixth through eighth grade students learn to work in teams to solve math problems, test their knowledge of Black history and build engineering projects. Some of the biggest lessons also come from the guest speakers at the annual event.

“There’s nothing you can’t overcome. Dream big,” said Dr. Stephanie G. Adams, dean of the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science and the Lars Magnus Ericsson Chair in Electrical Engineering, at the Feb. 26 event at The University of Texas at Dallas.

Speakers also included author Tre’ Bohannon and Richardson Mayor Paul Voelker. In addition, members of the Lockheed Martin chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers led a hands-on project to build catapults that could launch grapes.

The “Aiming for the Stars” academic bowl brought together 24 students on eight teams from Richardson and Dallas schools.

Hundreds of students, representing area schools and community groups, have participated in the annual event, representing area schools and community groups, since the first bowl was held in 2010. The event is sponsored by the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the Jonsson School and the Dallas nonprofit Project Still I Rise to encourage students to promote academic achievement.

David Robinson Jr.

David Robinson Jr., assistant director for community engagement at UT Dallas, said the academic bowl aims to expose students to the University campus and the opportunities that higher education can provide.

“It’s so important to have an event like this now more than ever,” Robinson said. “We’ve been in quarantine for two years and hosted a virtual event, but it’s nothing like being in person, and the response has been overwhelming.”

–Kim Horner