Be There on March 6

Let’s Celebrate!

ReSET celebrates its 25th anniversary at the Hart Senate Office Building on March 6th, 2013, between 5:00 and 7:00 pm, with presentations by renowned AIDS/HIV scientist Dr. Anthony Fauci and groundbreaking astronomer Nancy Grace Roman. ReSET volunteers and students will be on hand to demonstrate some of their experiments and hands-on science activities. The event is open to volunteers, educators, philanthropic organizations, and the media.

Founded by author and educator Dr. Harold I. Sharlin, the ReSET program partners professional scientists and engineers with teachers to help children develop a passion and aptitude for science and math. The goal is to provide children with engaging, interactive experiences with Science-Technology-Engineering-Math (STEM) subjects, to improve the quality of science and math education in the U.S., and to address current deficits in STEM academic achievement and professions. It is estimated that this pioneering program has reached more than 10,000 students with hands-on science programs since it was founded in 1988.

There were seven volunteers in ReSET’s first year of operation, serving mostly inner city schools. Those first ReSET sessions convinced Sharlin that the most effective and meaningful way of teaching children science was through simple, relatable, inquiry-based experiments that got students actively involved.

Since 1988, more than 300 volunteers have participated in the program. Today, ReSET has 95 volunteers, active in nearly 30 schools, representing more than 20 different STEM professions—from neuroscience to forensic anthropology to mechanical engineering. In the last few years, ReSET has broadened its service offerings to include Pre-Kindergarten children, charter schools, DC Public STEM Catalyst Schools, Saturday sessions, and after-school programs.

The Catalogue for Philanthropy formally recognized ReSET’s contribution to the DC area by selecting the organization for inclusion in its 2012/13 Catalogue. A panel of more than 100 expert reviewers from area foundations, corporate giving programs, and peer nonprofit organizations chose ReSET as one of 74 outstanding nonprofits to be featured this year.

Chancellor Kaya Henderson wrote a letter of endorsement on behalf of the DC Public School System (DCPS), praising ReSET for its service and commitment to DC metro area schools. She wrote: “We hope that our partnership will continue for many years to come, and that many DC students will start their pathway toward careers in science and engineering with a ReSET volunteer in their classroom.”

Event Location:

902 Hart Senate Office Building

Constitution Avenue and 2nd Street, NE 

Union Station Metro (parking available at Union Station)

(Take the North Elevators to the 9^th floor)

Join us in recognizing this important milestone. Please RSVP by February 21 by emailing reset@resetonline.org or by calling John Meagher at 703-250-0236.