9th Annual STEM Alliance Week Concludes Friday
Where can you find an astronaut, an acclaimed science educator from the South Bronx, a U.S. Congressman, and local and area elementary, middle and high school students eager to explore STEM fields through hand-on participation, robotics competitions, and more?
That would be at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) ninth annual STEM Alliance Week, Feb. 19 – 23 in various campus locations. Approximately 800 participants are expected to attend the event.
Congressman Henry Cuellar, (D-TX28) in collaboration with TAMIU and Laredo Community College, hosts the annual four-day event designed to encourage Hispanic students to consider careers in STEM fields. The STEM Alliance also includes a career fair and presentations from special guests, companies, universities and government agencies. Students, especially Hispanic females, are strongly encouraged to attend and learn about diverse career options available.
The TAMIU STEM Alliance is a collaborative network of educators, business partners, and affiliates that inspires interest in STEM careers to generate a robust workforce of future STEM professionals. It is especially focused on addressing the critical shortage of engineers and scientists in the U.S. by introducing STEM activities to elementary, middle and high school students.
TAMIU provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, Dr. Tom Mitchell, said that the STEM Alliance’s priorities are future-focused.
“We want to increase awareness of STEM studies for all our participants. We want to enhance K-12 STEM instruction by providing professional development opportunities for school teachers. Likewise, we want to provide STEM industries with an opportunity to recruit future employees and interns. Finally, we want to promote STEM education in general,” Dr. Mitchell said.
Mitchell said the University appreciates the multi-year partnership and support provided by Cong. Cuellar for STEM Alliance Week.
“We are indeed fortunate to have been able to host this event for the past nine years with Congressman Henry Cuellar, and expose students to the many career paths available through STEM areas, many right here at TAMIU,” Dr. Mitchell said, noting, “STEM graduates can anticipate a future that is boundless: from exploring space, to curing diseases, to engineering solutions…all is possible.”
The STEM Alliance Week opens Monday, Feb. 19 with professional development opportunities for Math and Science Teachers. On Tuesday, participants will have a chance to meet Stephen Ritz, a multiple award-winning South Bronx educator who created the first indoor edible classroom in New York City, routinely generating enough produce to provide healthy meals to 450 students. Also on Tuesday, a STEM Alliance Career Fair and free Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium movies will be featured.
On Wednesday, Feb. 21, a Robotics Competition for Fifth Graders will take place. On Thursday, Feb. 22, STEM activities for 10th Graders are scheduled, and students will learn about Naval Medical Research with Captain Thomas C. Herzig of the Naval Medical Research Unit, San Antonio Public Affairs. Congressman Cuellar will also address participants.
On Friday, Feb. 23, STEM activities for sixth graders will be highlighted and a special luncheon will feature NASA Astronaut Dr. Stanley G. Love.
Dr. Love was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1998. He holds a Master of Science degree and Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Washington, Seattle. In 2008, he flew aboard STS-122 to deliver and install the European Space Agency’s Columbus module to the station. While onboard, Love performed two spacewalks to prepare for the installation, added two science payloads and carried a failed ISS gyroscope to the shuttle for return to Earth. He currently works as a crew representative for the Space Launch System and continues to help plan for human exploration of asteroids, the moon, and Mars.
Corporate sponsors for this year’s event include Valero, Wells Fargo, and AEP.
For more information, please contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at 326.2180, e-mail prmis@tamiu.edu or visit offices in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, room 268.
Additional information is also available at www.tamiu.edu and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.