ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (June 29, 2016) -- The U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center had 58 active judges consisting of civilians, military personnel and contractors, volunteering their time to review and judge 961 mission folders for the eCYBERMISSION competition. This award was presented at a ceremony during the eCYBERMISSION National Judging and Educational Event in Leesburg, Virginia, June 20-24.
Virtual judges review thousands of projects submitted by sixth-ninth grade students from across the nation, which address a specific mission challenge. eCYBERMISSION is part of the Army's science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, initiative, answering the nation's need for increased national STEM literacy and expanding STEM education opportunities.
"It's become a point of pride that CERDEC leads the field in supporting eCYBERMISSION every year," said Erica Bertoli, outreach team lead for CERDEC.
Even before AEOP created the volunteer incentive competition, Bertoli emphasized how, from the top down, CERDEC cares about outreach.
"CEREDEC's drive and commitment to the future of our workforce isn't an afterthought. It's a clear goal that we're able to ensure our organization's success by supporting STEM initiatives like eCYBERMISSION," Bertoli said.
"CERDEC is the tip of the spear and has been doing STEM outreach before most of the current staff was in place. I have never known a director of this organization to not take the STEM mission seriously; each has put resources and the power of their word as director to encourage STEM outreach and really make it culturally imperative that we, as an organization, are grooming our next generation. It's a phenomenal place to work as an Outreach professional," she said.
This year CERDEC's participation in the event comes full circle. Frank Bohn Jr., from CERDEC's Space and Terrestrial Communications Directorate, was one of this year's virtual judges and served as a subject matter expert mentor for students at the national judging event. He was also a national finalist in this event years ago when he was in eighth grade.
"The kids were excited that I had been a part of it. They have been asking all sorts of questions about what I did then, what I do now, and how it is that I determined my path. By explaining to them my eCybermission experience, my education, and my experience with CERDEC, they have come to understand how big of a step forward participating in this program is for them," Bohn said.
Bohn joined other scientists and engineers, as well as noncommissioned officers, to assist national finalists at each grade level.
"Having SMEs at this event is very beneficial to these children. They get the opportunity to see Army technologies and ask questions directly to the people that are developing them. The children get very excited to see these new technologies and it is amazing to see how quickly the children develop a good understanding of how they work," Bohn said.
eCYBERMISSION judges across the nation dedicate a huge commitment of time and energy to help make the event successful, Bertoli said.
"The people who are doing this don't often have the flexibility to sit at their desk and work on it. They're doing this in between taking care of their homes and spending time with their families, friends and other commitments," Bertoli said. "They're doing it because they want to, not because they have to."
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The U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center is part of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, which has the mission to ensure decisive overmatch for unified land operations to empower the Army, the joint warfighter and our nation. RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command.
Related Links:
Army Communications-Electronics Command
Army Research, Development and Engineering Command
Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center
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