Students learn about structures and design at STEM NOLA event in Algiers
5 min read
AND IN LOWER ALGIERS TODAY KIDS HAD A GOOD TIME LEARNING WITH STEM MEOR THAN 180 STUDENTS COLLEGE INTERNS AND SMTE PROFESSIONALS PARTICIPATED IN THE STEM SATURDAY EVE.NT THE FUN DAY WAS FOCUSED ON GETTING GRADE SCHOOL STUDENTS ENGAGINGN I STRUCTURE AND DESIGN ACTIVITIES AND LEARNINABOUG T THINGS LIKE HOW FOUNDATIONS AND ROADS ARE BUILT. THE LOAD IS LIKE WAIT, SO HOW CATHN IS BRIDGE WE’RE STAYING ALL OF THESE CALLS EVERY DAY. HOW CAN I LIVE IN A HOUSE THAT HAS A CHIMNEY AND A ROOF AND THE WEIGHT OF GRATYVI PULLING DOWN ON IT AND STILL STANDING. I HOPEOU Y RIDE ON THE STREET EVERY DAY. NOW WE DO HAVE SOME PROBLEMS BUT FOR THE MOST PART THE STREETS STILL ARE STANDING. SINCE IT’S FOUNDINGN I 2013 STEM NOLA HAS IMPACTED MORE THAN A HUNDRED THOUS
Students learn about structures and design at STEM NOLA event in Algiers
Local college interns & STEM professionals facilitate STEM activities to inspire, engage & expose students to STEM opportunities.
Updated: 8:23 AM CDT Apr 11, 2022
STEM NOLA hosted its STEM Saturday event at the Cut-Off Recreation Center for more than 120 kindergarten through 12th-grade scholars to engage in hands-on activities designed to teach participants what it takes to create a structurally sound building design that can be replicated in the real world. The K-2nd grade students built a house out of popsicle sticks, 3rd-5th graders built and tested a wooden windmill and 6-12th grade scholars had the opportunity to build and test their own wooden Ferris wheel. “What they are really going to be learning about is loads and how structures have to support loads, the architecture that goes into building, why tunnels are shaped a certain way, and why we see a lot of triangles in structures,” STEM NOLA CEO and Founder Dr. Calvin Mackie explained. “Not only are they exposed to the possibilities of civil engineering and architecture, but they are also exposed to the professionals within that field.”By the end of the event, students were able to identify the different parts of a working structure and understand why each is important. This was also an opportunity for students to innovate, create and make with interns from local colleges like Dillard University, University of New Orleans, Tulane University, and Xavier University. Professional volunteers from the Boeing Company, the U.S. Navy, and VPG Construction were an integral part of the event serving as mentors to show the young scholars and college interns the career possibilities and opportunities ahead for them.“It was really one event that changed my life as an engineer. As I see these faces, all I think is that one day can literally change your life,” Michel Merridith, CEO of VPG Construction, said as he spoke to the crowd of students and parents. Meredith, a graduate of Tuskegee University and former Chevron employee, now runs a property management, real estate development, and construction firm that owns 400 properties in the Greater New Orleans area.“These things that you’re building, although they are small scale, are going to build to a big scale as you grow throughout your career,” Meredith said. “I can tell you that the things you’re going to do here today are going to have the possibility of changing your lives.”Chris Charles and his kindergarten daughter attended the event expecting her to have an opportunity to do something fun and build something tangible, but he soon realized the event would offer her much more.“It’s something I will probably do with her more often. I think she’s definitely gaining the STEM experience on a Saturday rather than sitting at home watching videos on her phone, so it’s definitely giving her the experience and opportunity to do something different as well as gain knowledge.”The event was hosted in partnership with Energy, NORDC, Boeing, the City of New Orleans, and The Nonprofit & Small Business Assistance Program. Since its founding in 2013, STEM NOLA has impacted more than 100,000 students, 20,000 families, and 5,000 schools. All materials will be provided upon arrival and students must be accompanied by a guardian.
STEM NOLA hosted its STEM Saturday event at the Cut-Off Recreation Center for more than 120 kindergarten through 12th-grade scholars to engage in hands-on activities designed to teach participants what it takes to create a structurally sound building design that can be replicated in the real world. The K-2nd grade students built a house out of popsicle sticks, 3rd-5th graders built and tested a wooden windmill and 6-12th grade scholars had the opportunity to build and test their own wooden Ferris wheel.
“What they are really going to be learning about is loads and how structures have to support loads, the architecture that goes into building, why tunnels are shaped a certain way, and why we see a lot of triangles in structures,” STEM NOLA CEO and Founder Dr. Calvin Mackie explained. “Not only are they exposed to the possibilities of civil engineering and architecture, but they are also exposed to the professionals within that field.”
By the end of the event, students were able to identify the different parts of a working structure and understand why each is important. This was also an opportunity for students to innovate, create and make with interns from local colleges like Dillard University, University of New Orleans, Tulane University, and Xavier University. Professional volunteers from the Boeing Company, the U.S. Navy, and VPG Construction were an integral part of the event serving as mentors to show the young scholars and college interns the career possibilities and opportunities ahead for them.
“It was really one event that changed my life as an engineer. As I see these faces, all I think is that one day can literally change your life,” Michel Merridith, CEO of VPG Construction, said as he spoke to the crowd of students and parents. Meredith, a graduate of Tuskegee University and former Chevron employee, now runs a property management, real estate development, and construction firm that owns 400 properties in the Greater New Orleans area.
“These things that you’re building, although they are small scale, are going to build to a big scale as you grow throughout your career,” Meredith said. “I can tell you that the things you’re going to do here today are going to have the possibility of changing your lives.”
Chris Charles and his kindergarten daughter attended the event expecting her to have an opportunity to do something fun and build something tangible, but he soon realized the event would offer her much more.
“It’s something I will probably do with her more often. I think she’s definitely gaining the STEM experience on a Saturday rather than sitting at home watching videos on her phone, so it’s definitely giving her the experience and opportunity to do something different as well as gain knowledge.”
The event was hosted in partnership with Energy, NORDC, Boeing, the City of New Orleans, and The Nonprofit & Small Business Assistance Program. Since its founding in 2013, STEM NOLA has impacted more than 100,000 students, 20,000 families, and 5,000 schools. All materials will be provided upon arrival and students must be accompanied by a guardian.
