Guymon’s Cai Barias among students at Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics

September 12, 2012

Guymon’s own Cai Barias is one of many teens throughout Oklahoma that is attending Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics.
OSSM is a 2-year public residential high school created and funded by the Oklahoma legislature.  The school is open to all students across the state who wish to apply during their sophomore year.  OSSM is categorized as a state agency. 
There is no tuition for a student to attend the school. Room and board are provided by the state. 
OSSM President Dr Frank Wang says that this is beneficial, especially to areas such as the Panhandle counties when it comes to the cost of schooling.
“Many of the people from the rural areas simply wouldn’t have the resources to pay for this type of education,” said Wang.
He said that he is wanting to spread awareness to these smaller areas that may not be aware of the school and inform them of the positive aspects that come from getting an education in this school system.
“I’m thrilled that we have a student from Guymon,” said Wang. “Our mission is to really provide a level of education and resources that would not be available out in the far reaches of the state where it would not be practical or economical to have an advanced math or advanced physics teacher in the smaller communities, so we want to be a place where a young person can come and receive a world-class education.”
He also discusses the fact that even though this school is based in Oklahoma, it has a wide variety of educators from different places.
“We have faculty that come from all over the United States and the world,” said Wang. “We are a state-wide school, but really, in terms of our faculty, would be considered a world or national school.”
Shadow programs are available for students to go shadow another student at the school to see what the school is like if they are interested in applying. OSSM is open to all Oklahoma students who are entering their junior year of high school and applications are due in March of the sophomore year.
For more information or to apply, visit the OSSM website at http://www.ossm.edu.