The Ripken Foundation has teamed up with the University of Maryland Medical System to bring STEM to students in Maryland. Through a three year partnership, the Ripken Foundation and UMMS will develop 10 STEM Centers in Maryland schools.
Piccowaxen Middle School, one of the 10 schools to receive grant materials, cut the ribbon on their new STEM Center in March. The ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by Board of Education members, Piccowaxen admin, staff, and students, and UMMS officials. Students from the robotics and MESA teams had the opportunity to test out their new tools alongside students from Piccowaxen's neighboring elementary school, Dr. Thomas L. Higdon.
Carroll County Public Schools Coordinator of STEM Education, Simone Young, was in attendance at the ribbon cutting and shared her thoughts on the new Center. "I encourage all of our students here to challenge themselves and learn all you can about STEM. These skills will carry you through school and your future. It is my hope that we can add more STEM Centers in our schools so more students can learn by doing," said Young.
The Center comes with fun and engaging STEM tools like a 3D printer, Drones, Snap Circuits, and Bee-Bots. Through these STEM Centers, students will learn science, technology, engineering, and math concepts using the educational products to develop and expand their skills.
Read more about this partnership in Southern Maryland News Net's article here. To learn more about our STEM Center initiative, click here.