Proposed STAR Science Center
The 4th of July holiday is all about celebrating the birth of our country, our independence and our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In this newsletter I want to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of Drs. Lorna and Paul Finman, who are shining examples of what independence, liberty and innovation can produce.
Lorna and Paul are the successful business owners of LCF Enterprises in Post Falls which, according to their web site listed below, “manufactures radio amplifiers and jamming devices that the military uses to disable IEDs and roadside bombs.” They produce key components that save untold numbers of our young men and women serving in combat all over the world.
Many people in Lorna and Paul’s position would pat themselves on the back, accept public kudos and consider their goodwill obligation complete. But not these two.
Lorna, with her doctorate in Physics, and Paul, with his doctorate in Electrical Engineering, have for years promoted improved education for students in science, math and technology, particularly robotics. Lorna’s conviction is that igniting a child’s interest in science early in their lives will open their minds to new possibilities. To that end, she has worked unceasingly to promote and pay for robotics teams at area middle and high schools.
And just this week, the Finman’s newest project received final approval from the Kootenai County Commissioners. Construction of the STAR Science Center will now begin, with its opening slated for September of 2012. The center is located north of Rathdrum and within its 20,000 square feet will feature “interactive exhibits, science laboratories and provide students with opportunities to explore robotics, molecular biology, alternative energy and agricultural technology”, according to its web site which you can access here: http://www.discovertechnology.org/ScienceC.html
The STAR Science Center is not a full time school, it’s in addition to the standard curriculum. The center plans to work with local schools to provide additional learning options, and it will welcome students on field trips as well as those enrolled in after school programs.
One of the most remarkable aspects of all the Finmans’ efforts is that they never ask for public funding; there are no taxpayer dollars going to build this center. Lorna and Paul have been successful in business and they are sowing their success back into the community.
Theirs is a story worth celebrating. The American entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well, as is the generosity of truly good people, which should give us all a much needed lift on this patriotic weekend. Thank you Lorna and Paul. Cheers to you both and to your strong support team!
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PS–the STAR Science Center has a sponsorship opportunity for anyone wishing to support this great project. For every $300 donation, they will install a special tile in the STAR Tower, printed with your name or message. If you can swing it, I know your help will make a difference. Please go to http://www.discovertechnology.org/ScienceC.html for more info.
In the spirit of the Fourth of July, and since it is topical, I want to brag a little about my parents. My dad, Gene, is a retired USAF Major who later created the first calculus high school class taught in Idaho. Paul Finman was one of his earliest pupils. A year older than me, Paul was among his sharpest students, going onto Stanford and the great success leading to this project.
Another student was Bill Caldwell, who became one of only a handful of U of I grads in history to finish with a 4.0 GPA. His major was in Physics, which my Dad also taught at Kellogg. Pop later taught at NIC and only recently retired (he is now 87) from teaching Physics on-line to students around the world.
My mom also had these guys in school, teaching science at the Junior high.
I’ll join my folks today at our lake place on CDA Lake as they celebrate their 64th Independence Day together, and thank God for giving me their many gifts throughout the years.
Thanks for allowing me to post this tribute, and Happy Fourth of July.
Comment by JohnA — July 4, 2011 @ 9:42 am
Thanks, John, that’s an inspiring story! Please pass along our thanks to your parents for all their years of teaching and the positive impact they have obviously had on the lives of their students.
On that note, the fact that your Dad taught Physics online to students around the world is remarkable. What is his view of Superintendent Luna’s plan to require some online courses for high school students?
Comment by mary — July 4, 2011 @ 4:00 pm
Sorry, just back from the boat. My dad endorses the use of computers in the classroom, as long as they are met with a firm background by in-school instruction. He built a PC in the 1970s with my eldest brother, vacationing from his job in the Silicon Valley. His first buy, a TRS-80 in 1977 fueled his bringing PCs into the Kellogg classrooms thereafter.
In his view, using technology to advance classroom education will work, as long as qualified, excelling teachers like my folks are side by side with them.
Comment by JohnA — July 5, 2011 @ 8:39 pm
“as long as qualified, excelling teachers like my folks are side by side with them.”
The problem is getting the UN-qualified ones out. Actually, out of ALL government positions.
Comment by concerned citizen — July 6, 2011 @ 6:57 am