Skinner Middle School Students to Attend STEM Program

     

July 11, 2011

 

Margo Aldrich

Director, Community Development

Community College of Denver

303.851.5686 (cell)

303.556.2411 (office)

Margo.aldrich@ccd.edu

 

(Denver, CO) Twenty-five Skinner Middle School students will participate in STEM, a middle school program/day camp provided through Educational Talent Search (ETS) at Community College of Denver (CCD).  STEM provides students with the opportunity to learn about careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) through experiential activities planned to stimulate, educate and enlighten. STEM is provided at no charge to ETS students at Skinner Middle School and is offered July 11-14, from 9am-2pm. The goal of the program is to inform students about careers in STEM areas and to achieve that goal through educational planning 

In addition to touring CCD and the Auraria campus, STEM students will visit the Royal Gorge Bridge where they will explore with a learning guide and imagine what it must have been like to build the world’s highest suspension bridge using the limited technologies of 1929. At Wings Over the Rockies students will learn about aircraft controls, forces of flight and the history of airplanes. They will then use this knowledge to “fly” on a flight simulator and assemble balsam gliders. At Arapahoe Community College they will learn how video games are designed and tour the Law Enforcement Academy. During the program, students will also learn about planning for college and career success. 

 

 

 

The need for STEM educated graduates is clear; the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects job growth at 22% for STEM occupations overall 2004-2014. Recognizing the national economic implications, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan says, "Everyone has a stake in improving STEM education. Inspiring all our students to be capable in math and science will help them contribute in an increasingly technology-based economy, and will also help America prepare the next generation of STEM professionals-scientists, engineers, architects and technology professionals-to ensure our competiveness,” (ED.Gov Sept 16, 2010).

 

STEM Middle School Program is coordinated through Educational Talent Search, a part of CCD’s TRiO Program. It is dedicated to increasing the number of 6th-12th grade youth from disadvantaged backgrounds to complete high school and enroll in a post-secondary institution of their choice.  Through a collaborative partnership with Skinner Middle School in Denver, ETS provides onsite career counseling and curriculum in a classroom setting including workshops on the four life steps of the student: middle school, high school, college and career. Students begin to explore those four life steps in order to start planning their future success. 

 

Community College of Denver (CCD) is a leading point of entry to higher education for the City and County of Denver. CCD provides a cost effective college education, along with access and opportunity for nontraditional students, workforce development and training resources for local organizations, and community partnerships. For more information, visit www.CCD.edu Information on occupations, rates for completion and placement, program costs and median loan debt can be found at www.ccd.edu/gainfulemployment