Base Pair to receive MAPE partnership award

The Mississippi Association of Partners in Education will present a University Partnership Award to the Medical Center and multiple high schools in the central part of the state for the Base Pair Program during a Governor's Award luncheon on Thursday, Feb. 21, at the Jackson Hilton.

Initiated in 1992, Base Pair is a biomedical research mentorship program that pairs Medical Center faculty with high school students and educators from the Jackson Public School District. Under the direction of Dr. Rob Rockhold, professor of health sciences and deputy chief academic officer, Base Pair allows each student to experience the scientific field in a "hands-on" manner under the guidance and supervision of a qualified instructor who is a researcher at UMMC. Base Pair provides academic credit towards graduation, career orientation and advanced laboratory training in the biomedical sciences.

"For more than a decade, MAPE has encouraged the growth of partnerships throughout Mississippi with the Governor's Award," said Michael Bentley, MAPE president. "These success stories show the many ways that partnerships play an active role in helping improve student performance and how increased community involvement in public education produces positive, measurable results."

The Governor's Award selection committee, comprised of representatives from business, industry, nonprofit organizations and educational institutions, selected the award recipients based on a uniform set of criteria to measure the overall effectiveness of partnership activities.

The Clinton School District, the Bower Foundation and the Mississippi Department of Education also will receive a Partnership in Excellence Award at the luncheon.