Lower Richland High School to kick off year of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programming on October 4, 2013

COLUMBIA, SC – September 17, 2013 –  Richland County Council Chairman Kelvin Washington will join local community leaders, members of the press, and the faculty, staff, parents and students of Lower Richland High School to celebrate the kick-off of the 2013-2014 year of innovative Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) curriculum at a special, interactive event on Friday, Oct. 4, 2013.

The event will take place from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 4, 2013 on the Lower Richland High School baseball field, prior to the 7:30 p.m. kick-off of the Lower Richland-Dreher football game. Over 1,000 people are expected to attend.

This will be a free, fun, forward-thinking celebration focuses on raising awareness about the excellent science, technology, engineering and math careers available in the state of South Carolina, and the way that STEM education is preparing our young people for success in high-paying, skilled careers at our state’s most innovative companies.

(Note: while the kickoff event is free, there is a small admission fee to the football game.)

 

There will be aerialist performers from Soda City Cirq, a DJ and live painting by local art collective Izms of Art, laser stylings by Laser Chicken, an experiential activity zone for small children by Mad Science, an interactive exhibit by The State Museum and robotics displays, as well as information tables from some of the Midlands’ top STEM career partners.

 

In attendance will be over thirteen STEM partner organizations, including Midlands Technical College, University of South Carolina, the Midlands Regional Business Alliance (MEBA), MicroBurst Learning, BEST Carolina and more.

The goal of this STEM initiative is to build a rich network and solid platform for collaboration that will prepare today’s students for success and eventual leadership in the new global marketplace.

 

EngenuitySC, the local public/private economic development organization, is serving as the project management entity for implementing the federal STEM grant at Lower Richland. Learn more: http://www.engenuitysc.com

 

Other 2013-2014 STEM events include:

 

Afterschool Program

Led by Paul Smith, Founder of BEST Carolina, this provides small group training, soft skills development, stress and financial management, entrepreneurship training and more. Smith employs the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) curriculum, endorsed by U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, as the best program for teaching entrepreneurship in the country.

·       Session One: September 16 – October 25, 2013

·       Session Two: October 28 – December 6, 2013

·       Session Three: February 3 – March 14, 2014

 

STEM Career Fair

Educates students on career opportunities: October 3, 2013

 

Student Discovery Days

·       Celebrate Metric Week: October 7 – 11, 2013

o   Celebrating through “Metric Olympics” activities in the classroom

·       Celebrate Mole Day: October 23, 2013

o   Work with USC Chemistry Department for chemistry-related activities and demonstrations

·       College Q&A: December 3, 2013

o   Group of students from Midlands Technical College will do Q&A session on college preparedness for seniors

·       Engineers Week: February 16 – 22, 2014

o   Select group of students go to University of South Carolina to participate in activities; program brings women and minority engineers into school for programs

·       Pi Day: March 14, 2014

o   A program that incorporates geometry and mathematics

·       Dress for Success: April 4, 2014

o   Reinforces soft skills training with a school wide fashion show focused on appropriate dress

·       Shark Tank: May 16, 2014

o   Brings the school together for the final Shark Tank business plan presentations with a judging panel and parents

 

Teacher Discovery Days

· &nbs
p;     Tour: October 25, 2013 and March 28, 2014

o   Introduces Lower Richland teachers to resources around the county and the community

·       Immersion: February 17, 2014

o   Teachers engage in full industry immersion exercise and eventually include parents and teachers

 

Parent University

·       Educates parents on post-high school educational tracks for their student, including financial aid options

·       Tentative dates: November 14, 2013 and April 24, 2014

 

Summer Camp

·       Provides small group training on soft skills development and entrepreneurship: June 9-13, 2014

 

 

STEM Program partners:

·       EngenuitySC

·       University of South Carolina (USC)

·       Midlands Technical College (MTC)

·       Midlands Education & Business Alliance (MEBA)

·       American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE)

·       BEST Carolina (Best and Entrepreneurial Students Together, LLC)

·       IT-oLogy

·       Microburst Learning

 

About the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Program

The goal of STEM-related professional learning is to support teachers with pedagogical-content knowledge that translates into effective classroom practices which integrates the four domains of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. As a result, students in effective STEM classrooms learn how to identify, apply and integrate concepts from those four domains in order to understand complex problems and to solve problems using innovative approaches.

 

About EngenuitySC

Headquartered in Columbia, EngenuitySC is a public/private partnership formed to develop and grow the South Carolina Midlands’ knowledge-based economy by fostering an environment where entrepreneurship, innovation, and the creation of knowledge are fundamental elements of the region’s culture, identity, and economic development strategy. Through collaboration with business, government, and higher education, EngenuitySC leads initiatives that support research development, promote commercialization, and leverage the region’s assets. For more information, visit