Penn College hosts STEMFest for middle schoolers

Over 350 middle school students recently experienced potential careers rooted in science, technology, engineering and math during the third annual STEMFest at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

The students – representing a dozen schools from Bradford, Clinton, Lycoming, Northumberland and Tioga counties – rotated through a series of 45-minute hands-on workshops, ranging from programming robots to operating a mini excavator. Supported in part by a grant from the EQT Foundation, the STEMFest sessions were led by Penn College faculty and staff.

“Kids should know about STEM career possibilities because many of the fastest-growing and highest-paying careers are connected to science, technology, engineering and math,” said Kathy D. Chesmel, assistant dean of materials science and engineering technology. “Early exposure helps students discover their interests, build confidence in problem-solving and understand how STEM skills can lead to meaningful careers that improve lives and strengthen communities.”

According to a report from the National Science Foundation, employment in STEM occupations is projected to grow 6% through 2034, three times the growth rate for employment in non-STEM fields. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ figures show that the median annual wage in STEM occupations ($103,580) is more than double that of non-STEM jobs ($48,000).

“Kids only know what they have had the opportunity to see and experience. Going to STEMFest gives them the ability to see a variety of different professions that they were probably never exposed to,” said Luke Herron, who teaches technology education at Central Mountain Middle School and has brought students to all three STEMFests. “When kids can interact with the faculty and spend a day at Penn College, they begin to feel like more things are possible for them.”

Horticulture instructor Justin Shelinski shows middle schoolers “the ropes” of tree climbing.

                                                          
Besides robotics and heavy equipment, students experienced several possibilities throughout STEMFest. Highlights included programming their own microcomputers (electronics), mixing concrete (concrete science), making a wooden toolbox (construction), examining the quality of welds via X-ray and ultrasound (nondestructive testing), building and testing the strength of popsicle stick bridges (civil engineering), experiencing a simulated operating room (surgical technology), and climbing a tree with a harness (horticulture/landscape/forestry).

They also worked with polymers, thanks to the PlastiVan, a national outreach program offered by the Society of Plastics Engineers Foundation. The SPE Thermoplastic Materials and Foam Division and Sekesui Kydex LLC, a Penn College Corporate Tomorrow Maker, sponsored the PlastiVan’s visit.

“We learned about various types of plastics, ones that react to heat and ones that react to water,” said Jess McCoy, who teaches at Ashkar Elementary School in the East Lycoming School District. “They also did an experiment where they skewered a balloon, and it didn’t burst.”

Daun Williamson, a math/music educator at St. John Neumann Regional Academy and a Penn College alumnus, said her students enjoyed making “play glob” at the PlastiVan workshop and were “fascinated” by the various polymer experiments.

“They enjoyed the hands-on experiences because they were able to actively build, test and create instead of just listening to presentations,” she said.  “Building a toolbox in the construction session was a highlight for many students because they were able to use real tools and take pride in creating something they could bring home. The nondestructive testing activity also captured their attention because it introduced them to technology and techniques they had never seen before.

“Overall, the activities encouraged teamwork, problem-solving and creativity, and many students left talking about new career interests and opportunities they had not considered before.”

That’s why middle schoolers are the target audience for STEMFest.    
                                   
“Research shows that middle school is a critical time for STEM career exposure because students are beginning to form lasting ideas about what they are good at and what careers are possible for them,” Chesmel said. “Early, hands-on STEM experiences help students build confidence, develop problem-solving skills and increase the likelihood that they will pursue technical education and careers later in life.”

Melissa Bhattacharya, an eighth-grade science teacher for the Milton Area School District who attended her third STEMFest, has seen that goal realized.

“The impact of STEMFest is visible in the long-term career aspirations of my students,” she said. “One student was unsure about careers after high school and began seriously pursuing an engineering career after seeing practical applications at STEMFest. Another student was inspired by the variety of STEM topics and is now considering a career in science education.”

The college hopes to host STEMFest again next spring, pending funding.

For information about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.