What Is HSTA?
	A. Mission Statement: "The Health Sciences and Technology Academy (HSTA) is a 9th-12th grade math and science program which encourages aspirations, opens doors and empowers minority (African American) and disadvantaged students and rural communities." The hope of HSTA is to increase the number of African American and underrepresented high school students in West Virginia that pursue post-secondary education in the health sciences and to increase the number of health practitioners in the medically under served communities of West Virginia. HSTA is currently funded by a Science Education Partnership Award RR-12329-01 from the National Institutes of Health, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Math & Science Act, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Coca-Cola, W. W. Kellogg, Claude Benedum Foundations, Stanley & Virginia Hostler, and the WV State Legislature. B. Community and Campus programming During the academic year students are enrolled in after-school science clubs facilitated by HSTA teachers. Teachers provide various science and math enrichment activities for the students and aid students toward completion of extended investigations, which they present at the annual HSTA symposium. The clubs also devote time to various community service opportunities and provide a support base for health career exploration. There are fall and spring professional development workshops, as well as graduate courses available, for HSTA teachers. During the summer months, the West Virginia University campus in Morgantown hosts the HSTA Summer Institute. HSTA students come for either a 1-week or 3-week program, composed of hands-on science, math projects, and leadership skills, facilitated by the HSTA teachers and WVU faculty. Prior to the students' arrival, teachers complete professional development activities offered by WVU faculty on the use of technology and inquiry-based instructional models that embed scientific ways of thinking and experimental design. In the following weeks at the institute, teachers work alongside faculty to practice these strategies by engaging students in analogous learning activities.