Casio and Clemson Calculate Change In South Carolina Through Emerging Scholars Program

DOVER, N.J., March 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- For more than five years Casio America, Inc's Education Division and Clemson University have shared a commitment to provide greater opportunities for South Carolina public school students.  Today, that commitment is even stronger thanks to Casio's continued support of Clemson University's Emerging Scholars Program - a three-year program that targets students from South Carolina public schools with a goal of increasing the number of students who attend and graduate college, ultimately having a positive impact on South Carolina's economic prosperity.

The Emerging Scholars Program strives to make mathematics meaningful by engaging students in explorations that delve into significant ideas and encourages critical thinking. As a testament to Casio's commitment to provide students with the proper tools to excel in mathematics, the company supplied Clemson University with its fx-9750 graphing calculator for integration into the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)-driven curriculum. Using the correct tools and understanding the basics enables students to have a much deeper understanding of the power and connections math has to offer.

"In the Emerging Scholars program, students are encouraged to hone significant life skills including critical thinking, problem solving and collaboration," said Amber Branch, Curriculum and Training Director of Casio's Consumer Products Division. "With the integration of proprietary curriculum designed by Clemson and Casio's calculators, we hope to spark the desire to learn and continue growing after passing through the program."

Since 2002, The Emerging Scholars Program has made higher education a reality for students who have not seen college in their future. The mission of the Emerging Scholars Program at Clemson University is to enhance South Carolina's economic prosperity by increasing the number of college graduates that come from economically disadvantaged areas and first generation families.

"This program is really a life saver for some of the students who participate," said Michael Council, a former Emerging Scholar and current financial management major at Clemson University. "We may have ups and downs, but at the end of the day we have a job to do — which is to make sure every individual who's involved with Emerging Scholars has a better outlook on life and knows that life is challenging, but the outcome depends on how we all react to every situation."

"The Emerging Scholars program has opened my eyes to the college experience and has definitely helped me to grow as a person in the areas of academics and sociality," said Jasmine Fields, current Emerging Scholars student at Allendale-Fairfax High School in Allendale, SC. "It's truly been a positive influence in my life, and without it I really don't know where I would be."

Casio has been introducing calculators as tools for education since 1985, its latest introduction PRIZM™, is revolutionary among graphing calculators.  It features a high-resolution color LCD display with various functions designed to assist with mathematics lessons, including the world's first Picture Plot function. Picture Plot enables students and teachers to graph mathematical expressions on top of real-life images, allowing for more visual, discovery-based learning.

For additional information on Casio's Education initiatives, please visit www.CasioEducation.com

About Casio America, Inc.
Casio America, Inc., Dover, N.J., is the U.S. subsidiary of Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, one of the world's leading manufacturers of consumer electronics and business equipment solutions. Established in 1957, Casio America, Inc. markets calculators, keyboards, digital cameras, mobile presentation devices, disc title and label printers, watches, cash registers and other consumer electronic products. Casio has strived to realize its corporate creed of "creativity and contribution" through the introduction of innovative and imaginative products. For more information, visit www.casiousa.com.

SOURCE Casio America, Inc.