Career Connect NW (CCNW) and Snohomish STEM created two STEM Like ME!® experiences and a presentation on robotics, modern manufacturing, and clean energy to students in Snohomish County before the end of the last school year.
Marysville Pilchuck High School
Four employers shared STEM careers through STEM career-related activity station rotations on May 30: Healthcare Career with NW Ambulance, Clean Energy Careers with Zap Energy, Environmental Science Careers with Harmsen, and Urban Planning Careers with Core Design, Inc. Ninety-eight students participated in hands-on activities with the employers to explore career paths. Students did CPR compressions on Rescue Annie, learned about wetlands through live plants, planned buildings on a traveling neighborhood simulation station that included forested areas, and assembled energy packs using instructions.
Student survey feedback showed a 71% increase in knowledge of STEM careers and 55% increased desire to pursue a STEM career.
Students work with NW Ambulance to learn about Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Training and healthcare careers at Marysville Pilchuck High School.
Explorer Middle School
Two weeks later on June 12, the CCNW staff created another STEM Like ME!® adventure for Explorer Middle School in Everett for students in Sam Surowiec and Heidi Cooper’s eighth-grade classrooms. Harmsen featured environmental science careers, Stage 2 Studios shared how to create video games and virtual reality interactive media, Sno-Isle TECH Skills brought a matching game for students at the Education STEM Station, and Northwest Maritime Apprenticeship for Marine Technician had students learning nautical knot tying.
Student survey feedback showed an 85.19% increase in knowledge of STEM careers and a 55.55% increased desire to pursue a STEM career.
Students at Explorer Middle School learn knot tying with Sierra Oliver from Northwest Maritime Apprenticeships.
“I want to extend a huge thank you to all the teachers and counselors that made these events possible, especially Heidi Cooper from Explorer Explorer Middle School and Andrew Santos at Marysville Pilchuck High School. It’s so fantastic when teachers want their students to experience STEM Like ME!® by making time for us so close to the end of the school year. Instead of a field trip, we brought the field to the school!” said Mary Powers, CCNW Career Connected Learning Specialist.
Megan Benzing, Career Connected Learning Specialist with CCNW and Snohomish STEM said, “These statistics aren’t just numbers; they reflect the passion and dedication of educators & employers who are helping to guide students towards rewarding STEM pathways. We are grateful for their commitment to inspiring and empowering students through STEM education!”
Port Susan Middle School Welcomes “Dancing Ladies” to Robotics Classes!
On June 6, CCNW brought Silfab Solar to Grace Gale’s class at Port Susan Middle School in Stanwood to talk about careers in robotics, modern manufacturing, and clean energy. Senior HR Manager Samantha Calkins and Research and Development Engineer Neil Wiens from Silfab Solar graciously stayed for two class periods to make sure all 48 students in both robotics classes in seventh and eighth grade could participate. Students asked many questions about floating solar panel farms, the six-axis articulated robots called the “dancing ladies” that gently lift solar panels and place them on the assembly line, and ideas on how to access clean energy. Neil brought a model to pass around that explained how solar energy works and shared several laminated solar panel samples.
Students hold solar panels samples from Silfab Solar to help them learn more about clean energy and advanced manufacturing careers.
