Polk County High's 5 Year Journey to Biofuels Science Research
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| 2007. Polk Co. High senior Elizabeth Russell decided to explore sustainability and bioufels in her English IV and UNC-G English 111 course. Her genuine passion for her project created a spark that began Polk's biofuel journey. |
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2010. Video of
AP Chem teacher, Mr. Zalevski decides he's ready to explore biofuel chemistry with his class. He's got the biofuels research bug too! Polk Co.
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| 3 years ago, Cody Owens, a senior at RS Central High School, completes a titration test at Weicker's shop. |
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| 2 years ago, Polk Co. team researches high school curriculum with Dr. Taylor at App. State |
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| Next, Appalachian State University student Zack Hobbs explains his work with the university's biofuel program. |
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| Last year, Polk
County Commissioners, teachers Weicker and Zaleveski, and Polk Co.
Schools Supt. Bill Miller visit Clemson to learn meet David Thornton,
Director of Biofuels and Bio systems Research. |
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| Polk Co. High visits Piedmont Biofuels production facility in Pittsboro, NC. WOW. Enzymatic reactor research. |
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| January-July 2012. Polk
Co. High science teachers design a biofuels chemistry and bio systems course, get approval from NC Dept. of Public Instruction. Students have
registered and begin course Spring 2012, taught by AP Chem teacher Mr.
Zaleveski and Biology teacher Kim Mirasola. Jennifer Allsbrook, Science
Dept. Head, along with help from Weicker, NC Biotechnology Center, Appalachian
State, Clemson University, and Piedmont Biofuels collaborated on science
grants to gain funding for the course and our mobile education unit. |
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| August, 2011. Polk Co. senior Matthew Walker explains biofuel titrations and
fatty acids conversion to fellow senior Jacob Hrobak, as he completes
his senior graduation biofuels project with Weicker. Approximately 17
area high school and college students have explored internships with
biofuels chemistry and sustainability. Matthew is a premed student at
UNC-A and Jacob is a chem major at NC State Univ. |
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| October 2012. Senior Mason Umlauf, assisted by biology teacher Kim Mirasola, performs a
titration test prior to producing the school's first batch of biodiesel
from sunflower oil. | | | | |
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| October 2012. The biodiesel process is demonstrated from start to finish. From left,
Clemson University’s David Thornton holds the sunflowers from which
seeds were taken. Kim Mirasola shows off the oil obtained from the
sunflower seeds. Sergey Zalevskiy holds the meal byproduct and the
biodiesel itself, and Tawana Weicker holds the glycerin, a byproduct
that she uses to make natural cleaning products. |
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October 2012. Senior Mason Umlauf rests against Polk County High School’s mobile
biodiesel wagon that has all the equipment necessary for turning natural
oils from the school’s cafeteria and farm into biodiesel.
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| November, 2012. The
exploration still continues: Be Kind Solutions visited the Appalachian
State Catawba Eco-Complex in Newton, NC. Harvest day for their research
soybean crop, which will be pressed for oil and then turned into
biofuels and Be Kind products. |
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| Catawba Eco-Complex Outreach Facility Director Jeremy Ferrel explains their research with oil feedstocks. Be Kind will be collaborating with Appalachian State Eco-Complex, Clemson on high school and Be Kind research and development. We're lucky to have these resources so close to home. Our students will be visiting this innovative and high-tech research facility. |
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| Jody Durham goes with Be Kind to photograph the harvest. Jody has joined the Be Kind team. He's a WARHORSE for sure. Gettin' a little too close to that combine? |
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