ATEC volunteers participate in capstone STEM event at local high school

By Ms. Andricka Thomas (ATEC)June 11, 2015

ATEC volunteers participate in capstone STEM event at local high school
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Gabriel Shertz, a junior at Bohemia Manor High School, explains his project to David Jimenez, executive technical director at the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, at the 2015 STEM and PLTW Capstone Gallery Walk, May 26, at Elkton High School. S... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
ATEC volunteers participate in capstone STEM event at local high school
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Alison Morris, a junior at Perryville High School, explains her project to David Jimenez, executive technical director at the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, during the 2015 STEM and Project Lead the Way Capstone Gallery Walk, May 26, at Elkto... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ELKTON, Md. (June 5, 2015) -- U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command personnel, along with other Aberdeen Proving Ground personnel, volunteered to serve as mentors as part of the Cecil County Public Schools' science, technology, engineering and mathematics annual event, the 2014-2015 STEM Gallery Walk of Capstone Projects, May 26, at Elkton High School.

The Gallery Walk marks the culmination of the Cecil County Public Schools' STEM Academy and Project Lead the Way program. This nationally recognized program offers rigorous STEM curricula for middle schools and high schools to ensure America's next generation is postured to be competitive in the highly technical global economy.

Projects presented at the Gallery Walk are judged by seasoned professionals who currently work in STEM career fields to allow students to benefit from these mentors' real-world experience and knowledge base.

Christine Zatalava, a STEM instructional coach for Cecil County Public Schools, said each year, the students' projects grow more complex, and David Jimenez, ATEC's executive technical director, agrees.

"The research and analysis these students conducted are of the highest caliber," said Jimenez. "Some of the projects I reviewed have direct applicability to research we are conducting on the APG campus today!"

Cecil County Public schools' provides its students a continuum of STEM enrichment opportunities embedded into their academic schedule, according to Louie Lopez, APG STEM outreach lead who is assigned to the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command.

"[These programs] get students interested early to posture them to enroll in Project Lead the Way once they get to high school," Lopez explained.

With STEM academies like this one relying heavily on participation from the science and engineering professional communities of practice, APG leaders have taken an active role to solicit as many willing Army scientists and engineers to serve as project mentors.

ATEC's Joint Test Element Technical Director, Lt. Col. Manuel Ugarte, mentored Elkton High School STEM Academy junior, Bryce Bird, through the development of his project as he sought ways to incorporate a super-capacitor into a cell phone to extend battery life.

"It's truly amazing to watch young students take on real-world challenges, some of which the Army is working to resolve today," said Ugarte. "Battery life can mean the difference between a Soldier having increased situational awareness or being blind on the battlefield."

"Who knows, maybe one day, these bright students will work at APG," Ugarte added.

ATEC's Army Evaluation Center and Aberdeen Test Center provided seven mentor volunteers to serve on eight projects this year.

"The post [APG] personnel are an extremely important component to our program. We are excited about the increasing number of professionals we're able to match up with our students," said Zatalava. She explained that students first choose a topic for their projects, and then teachers find mentors with the professional backgrounds to mentor students in their chosen topics.

"It is invaluable to have another adult work with students as mentors because it gives teachers a second voice in the classroom and allows students the benefit of getting realistic feedback that opens their eyes to what it's like to work in STEM fields," said Zatalava.

She expressed her enthusiasm in Cecil County having 102 students who will enter the STEM Academy in their sophomore year next year.

At the Gallery Walk, students presented their projects to groups of seasoned STEM professionals, one of whom was Jimenez who expressed his excitement about the student's aptitude.

"Attending these events is extremely rewarding for me," Jimenez remarked. "There is positive proof we have outstanding young talent ready to go on to higher education in the hard sciences, engineering and mathematics. Through our continuous outreach efforts I'm sure we can encourage a few to come work for APG."

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