Plant Hatch, Southern Nuclear and Georgia Power are partnering with four local school systems, Southeastern College and Career Academy (SECCA) and Southeastern Technical College (STC) to host a one week Summer STEM Camp for 20 rising seventh and eighth grade students.
Students from J.R. Trippe Middle School in Vidalia, Toombs County Middle School, Montgomery County Middle School and Treutlen Middle School are participating this week in a project-driven learning environment that will inspire future success in STEM related pathways.
The camp is located on the campus of SECCA and runs from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. The goal is to create a supportive environment where students feel encouraged to join in the fun of discovering the STEM world around them. The experience will also help build communication, teamwork, leadership skills, and maximize individual potential to help ensure students are well-equipped to meet the challenges in the world ahead of them. This will be accomplished by creatively fostering critical and analytical thinking through STEM problem-based learning activities. Southern Nuclear/Plant Hatch is providing all materials, curriculum, food and instructors. There is no cost to the student.
Research shows that students (especially girls) start losing interest in math and science during their middle school years, but summer programs that focus on involvement in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) can help play an essential role in improving the way students develop their STEM abilities and identity. The target is students who have an interest in math or science, but may not attend a four-year college.
The hope is to generate interest in a new pathway SECCA will offer beginning in 2019 – The Energy Pathway.
Each morning begins with an opening session where that day’s volunteers will share insight on why STEM is important and share information about their STEM career. After the opening sessions, students break into two smaller groups to participate and rotate through two hands-on project workshops. At the end of the day, students come back together again to work on a group project. According to Nora Swanson, SNC Workforce Development Coordinator, this is a fantastic opportunity for students in our area.
Pictured left to right: Nora Swanson, Workforce Development Coordinator for Southern Nuclear, Montgomery County students Zaire Nobles, Ayden Wade, Damon Jones, Aidan Harbuck, Declan Harbuck, and Joshua Stevenson, System Engineer for Southern Nuclear.
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Pictured left to right: Joshua Stevenson, System Engineer with Southern Nuclear, Treutlen County students Stacy Adams, Spencer Strowbridge Kayla Baker, Jadyn Jackson, Justice Nelson, Maidson Noble and Nora Swanson, Workforce Development Coordinator for Southern Nuclear.
Pictured left to right: Front Row: Vidalia and Toombs County students Trenton Corbitt, Meghan Onate-Leon, Emily Moran, Jada Clements, Sophia Cabe, and Anevya Vann. Back Row: Joshua Stephenson, Southern Nuclear Electrical Engineer, Nora Swanson, Workforce Development Coordinator for Southern Nuclear, and Shelly Smith, CEO of SECCA.
Article and photos courtesy of Vidalia Communications.
