The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Hands-on learning with STEM fields
Rome company gives students chance to test out skills
VERONA, N.Y. » With a need for more people interested in the field, Vernon-Vernon- Sherrill Central School hosted a night for students and parents to get together and get interested in STEM.
“Careers involving science, technology, engineering and mathematics are growing by the day,” said middle school principal Carrie Hodkinson. “Our district has been incorporating more STEM lessons and activities over the last three years to prepare our students to continue to be more college, career and life ready once our students graduate from VVS.”
The district partnered with the CNY STEM Hub, Partners for Education & Businesses and the Manufacturers Association of Central New York to host the event Thursday night. Students from grades 5-12 were invited from across the Central New York region. About half of the 100 students to attend were from VVS.
Bartell Machinery Systems out of Rome held presentations showing kids how much more money a STEM field career can earn and the kind of equipment the business produces, with ev- erything from tires to undersea cables.
“It’s really an outreach program to kids who have an interest in STEM,” President Patrick Morocco of Bartell Machinery Systems said. “It’s to educate kids early on about the opportunities to them in the STEM fields and educate them a little bit about what we do and hopefully create some interest in the field.”
After an explanation to the kids on friction, the Bartell engineers divided the kids into nine groups, with each tasked to make a balloon car.
The challenge was to design a car that produced the least amount of friction and traveled the farthest using a balloon as an engine.
By the time the supplies were handed out, the kids were already discussing designs and plans, using everything they had on hand, from balsa wood and dowels to foam and duct tape to make something unique.
The rest of the night consisted of trial and error as the teams tried to design the best vehicle. Some groups went for the standard car design, while others looked to making a hovercraft.
“Bartell Machinery far exceeded our expectations and we truly appreciate all of their support and professionalism,” Hodkinson said. “We look forward to attending other STEM career explorations in our region this year.”