Pictured: Dean of the College of Science Don Straney, Huma Ahmed, special assistant to Congresswoman Grace Napolitano,Stephanie Saccoman, Science IMPACT project director, and Ed Barnes, associate vice president of executive affairs.

Cal Poly Pomona recently honored U.S. Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-Santa Fe Springs, for her support of K-12 science education. The recognition came at the university?s Science IMPACT (Institute for Modern Pedagogy and Creative Teaching) open house on Dec. 5 at Kellogg House Pomona.

?We are particularly proud of the recognition Congresswoman Napolitano gave to the 50 Bassett Unified School District middle school students who received scholarships from Coca-Cola Co. to attend the Science IMPACT Summer Science and Math Camp in summer 2002,? says Stefanie Saccoman, Science IMPACT project director.

Science IMPACT is a chartered institute in the College of Science. It evolved from two National Science Foundation funded projects and, thanks to grants and private gifts over the past five years, has remained a self-sustaining institute. Through its efforts, Science IMPACT supports the university?s mission of outreach to the greater community. Last year, a four-year grant from City of Industry enabled the project to publish science instructional manuals intended to help K-12 teachers expand their curriculum while also seeking to make science instruction more interesting for students.

The Science IMPACT open house is held annually to recognize and honor the program?s donors and partners.

This year, Saccoman presented an award to Huma Ahmed, special assistant to Napolitano, who was unable to attend the event.

Other program donors and partners include Bassett, Walnut Valley and Pomona unified school districts, City of Industry, Fontana Native American Indian Center, Huntington Botanical Gardens, Industry Manufacturers Council, Manwarren Corp., NASA?s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Rain Bird Corp., Trade Union International, Valley Vista Disposal Services and Western University of Health Sciences.