By Ellen H. King
September 9, 2002

Elizabeth (NJ) Mayor Chris Bollwage recently invited the USCM/DuPont partnership Cities United for Science Progress (CUSP) to join him in focusing on the importance of education with some of his city's youngest citizens. CUSP's "Science in the School Day" came to the city of Elizabeth with the ultimate goal of providing Elizabeth's children with the chance to connect and learn with their mayor in a classroom setting. Together, Mayor Bollwage, a DuPont field engineer and thirty children, eight to nine years old, from Elizabeth's S.O.A.R. (Special Opportunities for Achievement & Reawakening) Program performed an experiment displaying basic engineering principles. CUSP's "Science in the School Day" event was so successful it caught the attention of CNN Local Headline News, which featured excerpts of the mayor's involvement every half hour the night of the event. Additionally, the program re"Science in the School Days" provide mayors with the opportunity to join school children in the classroom to both encourage their pursuit of education and to expand upon their growing knowledge and interest in science and engineering. CUSP visits cities across the country and teams up with mayors to assist them in creating healthier, safer and more innovative and economically vibrant cities through science-based solutions.

"Science in the School Days" provide mayors with the opportunity to join school children in the classroom to both encourage their pursuit of education and to expand upon their growing knowledge and interest in science and engineering. CUSP visits cities across the country and teams up with mayors to assist them in creating healthier, safer and more innovative and economically vibrant cities through science-based solutions.

"We are excited to have a partnership that benefits children who are the future of our cities," said Conference of Mayors Executive Director J. Thomas Cochran. "CUSP serves as a useful tool for teachers, students and children across the country and helps revive an interest in science."

Mayor Bollwage worked side-by'side with his fellow "engineers in training" to conduct the science experiment called the "Gumdrop Dome," lead by DuPont field engineer Regina Bowie. The experiment enabled the children to question, hypothesize and discover fundamental science and engineering principles.

"We are always doing exciting and innovative exercises with the students in our program, so CUSP was right up our alley," said Mayor Bollwage. "It exposed the kids to science in a fun way, and we got to eat candy too; so it was an all around good day for everyone!"

A city funded program, S.O.A.R. encourages community participation by stressing the importance of providing Elizabeth's youth with a safe alcohol, tobacco, drug and violence free environment while emphasizing the importance of educational achievement, recreational activities and supportive services for children and their families.

The children not only experienced a heightened interest in science and engineering as a result of the day, they also walked away with a strong sense of their mayor's confidence in the future of their education.

CUSP works with mayors across the country to bring similar programs to cities nationwide. To learn more about the CUSP partnership, please contact Ellen H. King by phone at 202-861-6791 or by e-mail at eking@usmayors.org.