CCHS Students Learn Fundamentals of Science in Making Their Own Boomerangs

Founder of MEA Interactive Science Programs visits school to share love of science, math

Wheeling Central Catholic High School (CCHS) science classes met at the school gym on Sept. 10 to do something a little different – to make their own boomerangs. Thanks to a hands-on, interactive science program presented by Darryl Lee Baynes, founder and president of Minority Aviation Education Association Inc. (MAEA) in Wheeling, W.Va., students applied fundamental concepts of science in making their own boomerang out of paint stir sticks.

Baynes says he visits 300 schools every year as part of his work with MAEA, teaching kids about the basics of math and science. “What I teach is a practical application of science,” Baynes said. “Here kids are learning that boomerangs work on the same theory as an airplane wing.”

Baynes likens his program to a “teach the teacher” program. He shows a small group of kids from each class how to use the table saw to grind down and round out the paint sticks to resemble an airplane wing. In turn, those students then serve as teachers to help their classmates complete the project.

To date, Baynes says 60,000-80,000 kids across the U.S. have seen an MAEA program. Presentation topics include aviation, biology, chemistry, physics and an assortment of “grab bag” subjects.

A Philadelphia native and graduate of North East Roman Catholic High School for Boys in Center City Philly, Baynes attended Pittsburgh University on a full scholarship where he studied math and chemistry. He later earned his master’s degree from Wheeling Jesuit University and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. from Curtain University in Perth, Australia. He has resided in Wheeling for the past seven years. His company currently operates out of three offices located in Miami, Detroit and Philadelphia.

“We enjoy having Darryl come to Central to share his knowledge with our kids,” said Joe “Doc” Viglietta, CCHS principal. “He helps kids experience the fun in math and science and learn from their own hands-on experience.”

In downtown Wheeling, Baynes is also spearheading a project to establish a new interactive science center. “The MAEA Science Center would be housed in the old Clay School on 15th and Wood Streets,” Baynes said. “It would be molded after Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Science Center and cater to any age student.” He said he hopes to gain the support of local community organizations and West Virginia universities in applying for a grant to fund the science center.

Wheeling Central is one of seven Catholic high schools in the educational system of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. Central is home to 420 students (grades 9-12) who reside in West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The school’s foundation dates back to the mid-19th century with the merging of a boys’ school — originally founded as the Classical and Mercantile College in 1865 and then reorganized into the Cathedral Boys’ School and later into Central High School — and the St Joseph Academy girls’ school, which was also established in 1865.