Senior 2023 Edition
Senior 2023 Edition
May 2023
May 2023
Embedded Files
EDD: Presents! 2023
EDD: Presents! 2023
The Best One Yet
The Best One Yet
Our Senior students look forward to the final presentation of their STEM careers. For the past few years, that has happened during our EDD: Presents! event in the spring. Senior engineering teams work all year long to identify a problem, research a solution and begin designing a prototype. In the spring semester, the students build, test and begin to modify their prototype iterations.
The event is a full-day of presentations and excitement. Our 9th -11th grade students get to choose the presentations that they watch in the morning sessions. Guests and parents are invited to hear the student teams present their designs. After all teams have presented, a lunch break occurs so that scores can be tabulated.
After lunch, the students of the STEM Academy, guests and judges meet in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) for the afternoon event. We start by announcing the top three teams and then each team is able to present their prototype on stage. In between presentations, awards for each grade are presented and seniors earn their graduation stole.
This year the event was awesome! Our students did an amazing job preparing for their final presentations of year. Each team should be very proud of their work.
Our top three teams reflect on their project and the day:
Our top three teams reflect on their project and the day:
Our project was Field View, an in-stadium device used for live soccer games, which betters the experience of the blind and visually impaired. It works by finding the ball's position on the field in relation to the device while simulating the real-time behavior of the ball through physical movements. The user would be able to feel the ball as it moves around, understand why it moves through integrated descriptive commentary, and feel the excitement of the live game without being hampered by their visual disabilities. When the finals were announced we were ecstatic. As a group, our year-long project had ended and we couldn’t be more proud of the results. It felt like our hard work was being recognized and there was a sense of accomplishment and gratification. One of the best parts was the smiles of the other Northwest EDD teams cheering us on for our results along with our STEM teachers. We are thankful for the help we have received from our teachers and friends, and we are excited to see next year’s products. - Field View
EDD presents was a very unique experience that enabled us to experience the engineering process in a more realistic setting. We were thrilled to design and present our product, the HaBEEtat, and to make a lasting change in our environment. Our wonderful judges gave us plenty of feedback that helped us learn and take our product to the next level. We are extremely grateful for this opportunity that allowed us to create such a meaningful product. -HaBEEtat
Our product was an innovative retainer made for cleft palate patients. We took aspects from a spring retainer and a Hawley retainer to create our product. After spending months on this project, our team made it into the top 3 and was asked to present on stage for everyone to see. Being on stage was rewarding for us, being able to show off all our hard work and display our research. We all enjoyed EDD Presents more than we can express and we’ll carry the lessons we learned for all of our future endeavors. - MainTainer
EDD: Student Perspective
EDD: Student Perspective
By Maxine Nucum
EDD is one of the most critical and significant events for STEM for the whole year. It marks that the year is slowly coming to an end and concludes a project the seniors have been working on, over the entire year. EDD or Engineering Design and Development is a class you take as a senior, focusing on one project the whole year. Out of our 37 seniors, we had 12 groups and the top 3 teams consisted of Field View with Ayden Lalani, Casen Foster, and Andreas Pirrilha, MainTainer with Olivia Mendoza, Kaitlyn Todd, and Cadence Fleicher, and lastly HaBEEtat with Aiden Sanders, Eva Smith, and Elle Cleveland. This year’s EDD was like no other, with many judges on our panel who were tough on our seniors, the groups this year scored very high and did very well. The day starts with the first session and, it’s on to the races! Every EDD Team will present twice among the 3 sessions spread out in 8 different rooms in our STEM Hallway. Once the timer starts, the seniors have 20 minutes to present and 10 minutes for judges and the audience to ask questions. After the 3 sessions, everyone went to lunch for a break before we conclude the day in the PAC for finals. Mrs. Garrett and Ms. Helmick are scoring as fast as possible to tally scores and see who will fill the podium. Once in the PAC, we announce the Top 3 and Awards for every single grade when announced the auditorium beams with drum rolls, and everyone is at the edge of their seat to see who the Top 3 are.
From a student perspective, this event like every year, is very well-planned and our amazing STEM Staff like Ms. Helmick and Mrs. Garrett will be stressing for months over an event that lasts for 1 day, how ironic. I had the honor to MC the finals in the PAC with Matthew Pitts and although it was nerve-racking, I had a blast helping announce winners and awards for the year. Being able to play a small part in the senior’s big day by helping set up and making sure everything runs smoothly as an ambassador was my contribution and something I was grateful to do. By the end of the day, everyone was exhausted but, it was the end of a great day. Honestly, EDD is one of those things that I’m sad that’s over but excited for what’s to come next year. (until I actually have to present :) All in all, EDD was filled with pride in our seniors, curiosity about their projects, and emotions of joy but also shed some tears for those who will be graduating.
EDD Overview
EDD Overview
By John Ketcher
During EDD, I got to view several unique presentations that each had innovative people attempting to solve a problem that they think could make a difference. These groups consisted of three people who were sorted together based on a personality test at the beginning of the year. Over the course of the school year, the groups worked together in order to create their final product, something that would solve either an everyday inconvenience or a widespread issue. The presentations I saw solved minor problems, such as the sun overheating the interiors of cars, improved designs for beehives, and a better car washer.
The presentations that were chosen to be finalists mainly consisted of solutions to widespread problems, such as retainers for people with cleft lips, and ways for blind people to better view soccer matches. In the end, the solution for the blind won, and I do believe that presentation deserved and was the best overall.
Congratulations to the Class of 2023!
Congratulations to the Class of 2023!
Thank you to our STEM Teachers & Booster Club!
Thank you to our STEM Teachers & Booster Club!
Congratulations Class of 2023!
Congratulations Class of 2023!
David "Trace" Adams
David "Trace" Adams
Texas Wesleyan University
Trace is heading to Texas Wesleyan to wrestle for the Rams. He is very excited to experience college life and attend classes. Though unsure of his major and career path, he knows that he wants to settle in Fort Worth. His favorite project is the Pinball Machine from Mr. Brown's class because building the robot and being creative with the team was awesome. Trace will always remember EDD: presents! and the excitment of the day. He wants to thank Coach Fresh for helping him become a better wrestler and "for always believing in me."
Certifications: OSHA 10, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, AutoDesk Revit
Chiamaka Anude
Chiamaka Anude
University of Texas at Arlington
Chiamaka will be attending UTA in the fall to study Civil Engineering. She is very excited to grow and learn more about the world around her and experience new and different cultures. Her goal is to work and earn a Master's Degree. Chiamaka's favorite memory is of Women in STEM Day and her favorite project was the library project which helped her grow and learn so much about Architecture and Civil Engineering. Chiamaka wants to thank Ms. Garrett, " She's been more than just a teacher for me. She's been a friend. I believe Mrs. Garrett is what all teachers should look up too. Mrs. Garrett never fails to uplift every room she walks into, so much so that when she has a sub for the day I get sad because that means I don't get to see her. Mrs. Garrett is the teacher I feel like I could tell anything to and she'll help me out with a lack of judgement. I'm definitely going to miss her next year, but I'm so happy that the upcoming seniors will be blessed with her presence."
Certifications: OSHA 10, AutoDesk Revit
Matthew Asante
Matthew Asante
University of Texas
Matthew is headed to University of Texas at Austin, where he plans to pursue a Computer Science degree. Matthew is excited to experience some of the freedoms that come with being a young adult in college. The project that will leave a lasting memory for Matthew was his Machine Control PBL because he was working down to the wire to get it done. Matthew would also like to thank Mr. Odems and Mr. Brown for exposing him to cybersecurity and sparking an interest in it. He aspires to be a Cybersecurity Analyst once he has completed his education.
Certifications: OSHA 10, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, Word Expert, Access Expert, PCEP, AutoDesk Fusion 360, Security Pro, CompTIA Security+
Allen Bao
Allen Bao
University of North Texas
Allen is headed to UNT with goals of becoming a Software Developer and a Computer Science Degree so that he can enjoy the freedom to travel without restrictions.. Allen really enjoyed his PBR project this year because everyday was fun and all his best friends were in one class together. Allen wants to thank Mr. Odems and Mr. Brown for inspiring him in a field that he wasn't even aware of when he came to STEM. Mr. Brown's class and his presence was a reassuring one, something comfortable I can work in. Mr. Odems has all the experience and knowledge I could ask for (and a talented singer as well)."
Certifications: OSHA 10, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, Word Expert, Excel Expert, PCEP, AutoDesk Fusion 360, Javascript
Preston Chapman
Preston Chapman
University of Advancing Technology
Preston is excited to head to Tempe, Arizona to attend the University of Advancing Technology to study computer science and software engineering. He is most excited about continuing to study in a field which he is both passionate and skilled. His favorite project was the Passion Project during sophomore year where he was able to create a computer game called "RNG Dungeon" using Unity. Preston is most proud of all of the skills and certifications he has gained. To date, he has earned Adobe Photoshop (earning a perfect score), Autodesk Fusion 360, Entry-Level Python Programmer, OSHA 10, and Microsoft Office Specialist certifications (Word Associate/Expert, Excel Associate/Expert, PowerPoint Associate, and Outlook Associate). He wants to give a high-five to Ms. Williamson who has supported his growth in writing and communication for over three years.
Certifications: OSHA 10, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, MOS Outlook, Word Expert, Excel Expert, PCEP, AutoDesk Fusion 360, Adobe Acrobat
Parth Chhetri
Parth Chhetri
University of Colorado Boulder
Parth is moving on to the University of Colorado Boulder to study Computer Science. Parth has goals to become a software developer and have more freedom, be friendly and have no enemies. His favorite project was the ski project in PBR where they were able to work all year on a single project idea involving Computer Science and all their STEM skills. Parth wants to thank Mrs. Garrett for guiding him almost every year with her brilliant teaching and enthusiasm. " I don't think I would've came out of STEM in one piece without her influence."
Certifications: OSHA 10, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, Word Expert, Excel Expert, AutoDesk Fusion 360
Elle Cleveland
Elle Cleveland
Texas Tech University
Elle has dreams of opening her own tattoo shop after college graduation. She is heading west to Texas Tech to major in business and minor in art. She is most excited about meeting new people and having new experiences in college. Her favorite project was her EDD project because she has such a passion for bees and learned so much. Elle wants to thank Ms. Williamson for always being willing to listen and give good advice throughout the years.
Certifications: OSHA 10, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, AutoDesk Fusion 360
Brooks Couch
Brooks Couch
Oklahoma State University
Brooks will be attending Oklahoma State University in the fall to major in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Brooks is happy to have a change and experience new things from what he is used to. His favorite memory is his 10th grade rocket launch when they did the best of the STEM teams. His favorite project was his senior EDD project, because he got to spend an entire year focusing on a single product. Brooks wished to thank Mr. How for making Chemistry cool and teaching him life lessons.
Certifications: OSHA 10, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, Word Expert, Excel Expert, AutoDesk Fusion 360
Aidan Crimin
Aidan Crimin
University of North Texas
Aidan will be attending UNT after high school. His goal is to earn a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and a masters degree in robotics. He's looking forward to becoming financially independent as quickly as possible. When Aidan sets his mind to reach a goal, he accomplishes that goal. Aidan's favorite assignment, during STEM, was the pinball project. One of his favorite memories from STEM is building a sorting machine with VEX robotics in POE. Aidan has been interested in robotics since a young age, and he really enjoyed learning how to use VEX and code with RobotC. He would like to thank Mr. How for making Chemistry and Environmental Sustainability so interesting and enjoyable. His time spent in Mr. How's classroom these past few years has helped develop in him love for science and learning.
Certifications: OSHA 10, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, Word Expert, AutoDesk Fusion 360
Lauren Durbin
Lauren Durbin
University of North Texas / Air Force Cadet ROTC
Lauren is heading to UNT to study biomedical engineering and will also be part of the Air Force ROTC program. She is excited about all of the experiences that are ahead of her. She really loved the Monorail project from POE. She enjoyed being the first team to take on the challenge and succeeding! She will never forget exploding her root beer in chemistry. Lauren wants to thank Coach Portoff for being so understanding. Because of her, Lauren was able to balance school swim, club swim and merciless STEM projects.
Certifications: OSHA 10, OSHA 30, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, Word Expert, AutoDesk Fusion 360
Ridwan Durosimi
Ridwan Durosimi
University of Oklahoma
In 5 years, you will find Ridwan living large due to his work as a video game designer. After graduation, he is heading to the University of Oklahoma to study computer science. He is excited about all of the experience and skills he will gain in college. Ridwan will never forget the Culture Café project because it was long and he was completing it via online learning. One of his favorite memories of STEM will be the huge game night that council hosted in the Fall of 2022 - it was packed and so much fun! Ridwan wants to thank Ms. Williamson for pushing him to be a better writer and helping him with his essay skills.
Certifications: OSHA 10, OSHA 30, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, Word Expert, Excel Expert, Access Expert, AutoDesk Fusion 360
Alex Earnhart
Alex Earnhart
Oklahoma State University
Alex is headed to Oklahoma State University where he plans on getting his Master's Degrees in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Alex will be continuing his passion for rocketry on the OSU Rocketworks team and participating as a Technology Scholar. Alex enjoyed working with his rocketry teammates Josh & Andreas late nights and his favorite project was the 1 to 34 rocket project in Aerospace which inspired them to compete in TARC. Alex wishes to thank Mr. Bradshaw, "He has been a great mentor and teacher that has assisted us in school and in life while always making sure that we are continuing to learn, push ourselves, and have fun."
Certifications: OSHA 10, OSHA 30, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, Word Expert, Excel Expert, AutoDesk Fusion 360, PCEP, NAR Junior Level 1 Rocketry
Cadence Fleischer
Cadence Fleischer
The University of Arkansas
Cadence is heading to the University of Arkansas to study architectural design. She is excited for a "fresh start" and meeting knew people. She can't wait to explore Arkansas and the campus. Her favorite project was the library design project in CEA during junior year. The project allowed her to be super creative and free with her design ideas. Cadence loved the Women in STEM event and enjoyed learning from all of the professionals and spending time with her friends. She wants to see a shoutout to Ms. Williamson who was a strong support system for all three years.
Certifications: OSHA 10, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, Word Expert, AutoDesk Fusion 360, AutoDesk Revit
Casen Foster
Casen Foster
Hendrix College
Casen is headed to work immediately after graduation. In the next five years he hopes to graduate from Hendrix college and to start pursuing career in the civil engineering field. Looking back, Casen loved the Pinball Machine project because it set a precedent for the rewarding four years he had in STEM. He ended his time here strong with his favorite memory being EDD and seeing all the great ideas the seniors class could come up with. As a son of a teacher, he wants to thank every teacher and coach that helped him along the way.
Certifications: OSHA 10, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, AutoDesk Revit
Taylor Gouge
Taylor Gouge
Northeast Texas Community College
Taylor is packing up to move to Northeast Texas Community College to play softball. She is excited to continue her softball journey and studies in interior design. Taylor is most excited about being an adult and having new experiences. Her favorite project was the tiny house design in CEA because the design constraints forced her to be really creative with her spaces. She will never forget the year in CEA because she enjoyed getting to work with different grade levels in the same course.
Certifications: OSHA 10, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, AutoDesk Revit
Nikodem Jennings
Nikodem Jennings
University of North Texas
Niko has a great potential and is excited to experience college life at UNT majoring in Computer Science with goals to be a software developer. Niko really enjoyed his Computer Science I pong game project because he was able to let people play it at STEM Showcase. Niko's favorite memory was turning pennies gold in chemistry where they made an assembly line to create 37 pennies. Niko wants to thank Mr. How for making his class and is room a fun environment every day. Niko also wants to thank Mr. Odems for making an impact on his life by being a great mentor during his senior year and giving him advice on life, projects, careers, and college.
Certifications: OSHA 10, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, MOS Outlook, Word Expert, AutoDesk Fusion 360
Ayden Lalani
Ayden Lalani
Rice University
Ayden is excited to start at Rice University in the fall. He will be studying architecture and can't wait to travel to study architecture around the world. Ayden is also excited to gain some independence and meet new people. His favorite STEM project is the Claw Machine from sophomore year because the class was hands-on. Ayden enjoyed troubleshooting the robotic builds and working with his team. His favorite memories are from Project Based Research and the pot-lucks they had to try different exotic foods. He wants to thank Mrs. Garrett, Mrs. Helmick & Mr. Bradshaw for all of the support and advice -- and for pushing me to attend Rice.
Certifications: OSHA 10, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, AutoDesk Revit, AutoDesk Fusion 360
Nicolas Medina
Nicolas Medina
Undecided
Nicholas is heading out into the world with a great amount of skills and excitement for the future.
Certifications: OSHA 10, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, Word Expert, AutoDesk Fusion 360
Olivia Mendoza
Olivia Mendoza
Tarrant County College
Olivia is headed to Tarrant County college to get her general studies completed. She loved creating friendships in the STEM Academy throughout her four years here but, is happy to leave the projects behind her. The project that had the most impact on her was EDD. Although she was challenged in her classes, she wants to thank all of STEM teachers as she "learned so much" from them all.
Certifications: OSHA 10, OSHA 30, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, AutoDesk Fusion 360
Mason Mittenzwei
Mason Mittenzwei
Tarleton University
We are so excited for Mason as he leaves for Tarleton State in Stephenville to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Mason looks forward to experience college life and meeting new people. His favorite project was his EDD because " I had a great team who worked well together and had a lot of fun at the same time!" Mason's favorite memory in STEM was when their root beer project accidentally exploded, and Mr. How still jokes with him about it. Mason wishes to thank Mrs. Garrett who has been such a wonderful and inspirational educator who has taught him a lot!
Certifications: OSHA 10, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel
Christian Morgan
Christian Morgan
Blinn College & A&M University Engineering
Christian is heading to the Blinn/TAMU engineering school. He is excited to continue his engineering journey in college and gain more skills. He hopes to be an engineer at a sought after company soon after college graduation. Christian enjoyed the EDD project the most because there was so much freedom for the team to make decisions and work together towards a goal. His favorite memory will always be winning the Zombie Apocalypse OLC challenge and working with students from all grade levels. Christian wants to thank Ms. Williamson for always being caring and flexible - "she knows us as a person... not just as a student." He also wants to say check mate to Mr. How who is always willing to play a game of chess and helped him gain his love of chess back.
Certifications: OSHA 10, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, Word Expert, Excel Expert, AutoDesk Fusion 360, PCEP
Arianna Owens
Arianna Owens
University of Houston
Arianna is headed to the University of Houston to study Architecture and Interior Design. Arianna is ready to start a new chapter in her life and meet new people. Arianna really enjoyed getting to work on her eco-friendly city project in PBR, getting to be with friends in her PBR and EDD classes this year. Arianna wishes to thank Ms. Garrett " because she’ has watched me grow from an unsure and procrastinating individual, into someone who’s is passionate and sure of what they want to do in the future, and way better at time management in comparison (though I still struggle from time to time…)".
Certifications: OSHA 10, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, AutoDesk Revit
Andreas Parrilha
Andreas Parrilha
University of Texas
Andreas is ready head down to Austin to major in Aerospace Engineering at UT. He has ambitions of chasing his rocketry passion and working for NASA or SpaceX. His favorite memories are all of the rocket launches and rocketeering he did with his team. His favorite project was his 1 to 34 challenge in Aerospace because it introduced him to a love of model rocketry. Andreas wishes to thank Mr. Bradshaw for helping him push through the worst and for being a great teacher!
Certifications: OSHA 10, OSHA 30, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, Word Expert, Excel Expert, SolidWorks Pt 1 & 2, PCEP
Brock Ramey
Brock Ramey
University of Texas at Arlington
Brock is excited to attend UTA in the fall and study mechanical engineering. He can't wait to meet new people and have new experiences. His favorite project was the Pinball project from POE because his Pinball machine was really good! His favorite memories are just meeting all of the new people at NHS and STEM. Brock wants to thank Mr. Bradshaw who taught him a new way to solve problems, a way that he will continue to use for the rest of his life.
Certifications: OSHA 10, OSHA 30, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, MOS Outlook, AutoDesk Fusion 360
Tessie Rozell
Tessie Rozell
Texas Tech University
Tessie is heading to west Texas to attend Texas Tech as an environmental engineering major. She is excited to meet new people and experience college life. Her favorite STEM project was the Culture Cafe because of all of the unique details of the design and menu. Tessie will always cherish the family that she gained by being in the academy - STEMers for life! She wants to thank Ms. Williamson for being such a strong support and for always having Kleenex for the tears.
Certifications: OSHA 10, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, Word Expert, AutoDesk Fusion 360,
Aidan Sanders
Aidan Sanders
University of North Texas
Aidan plans to attend UNT in the fall majoring in business. He is very excited to make new friends and begin working on his goals. Aidan is proud of how he has grown during his time in STEM and helped him become more confident. His most memorable, but least favorite project was the pinball project in IED because it was working up until presentations. Aidan wants to thank Ms. Williamson and Ms. Garrett for always being there for him over the years, he will always be grateful to them both.
Certifications: OSHA 10, OSHA 30, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, MOS Outlook, Word Expert, Excel Expert, AutoDesk Revit
Josh Santos
Josh Santos
Texas A&M University
Josh will be attending Texas A&M University to pursue a career in Aerospace Engineering. His goals are to travel internationally and meet people with similar passions and eventually live in a lagre city like LA or Austin while working in the Aerospace field. He is a Level 1 High Power Rocketeer and will be leveraging his skills as a member of the Aggie Rocketry Team. Josh enjoyed his 1 to 34 rocket in Aerospace and his fondest memories are of working day in and day out on rockets his junior and senior years. Josh wishes to thank Mr. Bradshaw. He is the first teacher to raise expectations higher and push him to his engineering limits. He also made sure to keep a warm and fun atmosphere despite the stress that can come every now and then from school.
Certifications: OSHA 10, OSHA 30, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, Word Expert, Excel Expert, AutoDesk Fusion 360, NAR Level 1 Rocketry
Eva Smith
Eva Smith
University of Texas at Arlington
Eva is eager to meet new people and see new places after graduation. She is enrolling in the architecture program at UT Arlington and hopes to be finishing her masters in five years. Eva's favorite project was the "Character Crip" because it was a cross-curricular project and had so many creative elements. Her favorite memory is STEM banquet junior year where she was able to have a ton of fun with friends and hangout all night. She wants to thank Mrs. Garrett for always listening to her ideas- even the crazy ones!
Certifications: OSHA 10, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, Word Expert, AutoDesk Revit
Jes Spruill
Jes Spruill
University of Texas
Jes is headed to Austin the fall for UT, to study International Relations. He is very excited to learn and discover who he is as a person and find others who share his passions. Jes really enjoyed Mr. Brown's class because even during COVID he found a way to make STEM feel like STEM with a spark of life every day. Jes really liked the Character crib project because it allowed him to combine CEA and English class skill sets, and was a truly enjoyable experience. Jes wants to thank Coach Olson who made high school a joy for what it was, even in the darkest of times, and Ms. Garrett who helped to make sure that STEM was the experience it was entailed to be, and made it an amazing time throughout his journey.
Certifications: OSHA 10, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, Word Expert, AutoDesk Revit, AutoDesk Fusion 360
Ava Stanford
Ava Stanford
University of Texas at Arlington
Ava is excited to attend the University of Texas at Arlington and major in Architecture. Though she has loved STEM & high school, she is excited to travel and experience independence. Her favorite project was the library project in CEA because she was able to be very creative with almost no parameters. The Women in STEM event during 9th and 12th grades provided a great deal of motivation & drive to succeed in Architecture. She would like to thank Mr. Bradshaw for helping her become a better student and pushing her to challenge herself in Physics. She states " he is one of the first people I tell about my accomplishments because I want him to see how far I've come since taking his class Junior year. I am so grateful to have had him as a teacher."
Certifications: OSHA 10, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, AutoDesk Revit
Jayden Stanley
Jayden Stanley
CEO of Man.of.God
Jayden is excited to focus on his business "Man.of.God." and more entrepreneurship ideas. He is planning to attend college and study engineering in the future. His favorite memory is the EDD project because the build up of excitement before the EDD: Presents! day was huge. Even though his team started out with low chemistry, in the end they worked well together and had a great product. He will never forget all of the work to prepare for EDD presentations. Jayden wants to thank Mr. Deal, Mr. Bradshaw & Mrs. Garrett for all of the support and advice.
Certifications: OSHA 10, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, AutoDesk Fusion 360
Erikkha Stone
Erikkha Stone
University of Texas at Arlington
Erikkha wants to travel the world after her time at UTA studying Architecture. She is excited to go on her Senior trip with friends and meet new people in the fall at school. Erikkha enjoyed her library project in CEA because they had creative freedom to design it from the ground up. He favorite event in STEM was Women in STEM, " It was so nice to be around people who go through the same struggles as I do and can relate. It also made me very confident for my ACE presentation later in the day". Erikkha wants to thank Ms. Garrett for being supportive and helpful during her time in STEM.
Certifications: OSHA 10, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, AutoDesk Revit
Wyatt Storey
Wyatt Storey
Undecided
Wyatt is excited to graduate and meet new people. He has lots of plans for after graduation from STEM.
Certifications: OSHA 10, OSHA 30, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel
Kaitlyn Todd
Kaitlyn Todd
North Carolina
KT is moving after graduation to North Carolina and will be working before starting classes in the spring with the goal of becoming a Special Education teacher. KT is excited for the opportunity to have a fresh start and meet new friends, though she will never forget her friends or time in STEM. . KT enjoyed her character crib project because she got to read a book and use her design and building skills. KT will never forget Women in STEM day, because she was able to learn about careers and spend time with friends. KT would like to thank Ms. Garrett, Ms. Williamson, and Mr. How, " They have all helped me so much and have been apart of my life. Whenever I needed to sit or just someone to talk to they were there. Even during the online year and everything was confusing they would still take time to answer questions and get to know their students."
Certifications: OSHA 10, OSHA 30, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Outlook, AutoDesk Fusion 360
Thomas Trisko
Thomas Trisko
Arizona State University Polytechnic
Tommy is excited to attend Arizona State University Polytechnic Campus to pursue a degree in software engineering. He is very excited about the change in scenery and the new experiences he will have in Arizona. His favorite project was the root beer lab in Chemistry because "it felt like a really elaborate lab" instead of a project. Tommy's favorite memory from STEM is the "small fire ball" that was created in Chemsitry by accident - luckily it disipated quickly and no one was hurt. He wants to thank all of his band directors for helping him get better and motivating him to get up early for practice - Thanks Mr. Cho, Mr. Boulet, Mr. Munger, and Mrs, Moreno!
Certifications: OSHA 10, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, MOS Outlook, Word Expert, Excel Expert, AutoDesk Fusion 360
Tristan Tyner
Tristan Tyner
Texas Tech University
Tristan is moving west to Texas Tech! He is really excited to begin college as an electrical engineering major. Tristan is thrilled to graduate and get out on his own. His most memorable STEM project was hands-down EDD - a year long project! He will always remember struggling through Physics with Mr. Bradshaw but gaining lots of knowledge. Tristan wants to thank Ms. Williamson for "being such a good teacher and always being there for her students."
Certifications: OSHA 10, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, MOS Outlook, Word Expert, AutoDesk Fusion 360
DeWayne Waldon
DeWayne Waldon
University of North Texas
DeWayne is heading to University of North Texas to study Computer Science. He is thrilled to experience college life and the freedom that it brings. He will always remember all of the hard-work that he and his team put into EDD. His favorite memory of STEM will be the Zombie Invasion day at the OLC! DeWayne wants to thank Mr. Bradshaw and Ms. Williamson for pushing him to work hard and succeed.
Certifications: OSHA 10, MOS PowerPoint, MOS Word, MOS Excel, Word Expert, AutoDesk Fusion 360
Caps Off to Our Graduates
Caps Off to Our Graduates
The Class of 2023 walked across the stage on Tuesday, May 30 at UNT. The pomp and circumstance of the day was special. We were so excited to be in the audience to celebrate our graduates.
The Salutatorian for the Class of 2023 was none other than our own Matthew Asante. Congratulations Matthew- your speech was amazing & Mrs. Garrett introducing you was a special touch.
Tessie Rozell also spoke at the ceremony - sending the Class of 2023 off with her closing remarks.
Our ceremony was also kicked off with an ROTC Honor Guard - with our own Dylan Haynes, Junior STEM student, as a flag bearer. Great job!
Congratulations to all of our graduates! We wish you all of the luck and successes that you deserve. Once a STEMer, Always a STEMer.
Check out the NISD photos here: bit.ly/3N36oVT
*While every effort was made to get images of each graduate, due to the location of the "photographer" some may have been missed. Our apologies for this!
Projects & Learning in STEM
Projects & Learning in STEM
Our STEM Academy stats for 2022-2023:
OSHA 10 = 90
OSHA 30 = 7
Adobe Photoshop Professional = 1
Autodesk Fusion 360 = 99
Autodesk Revit = 5
Autodesk CAD = 1
CompTIA Security+ = 1
Microsoft Word = 56
Microsoft Excel = 59
Microsoft Excel Expert = 21
Microsoft Word Expert = 17
Microsoft Access Expert = 1
Microsoft PowerPoint = 56
Microsoft Outlook = 27
NAR Rocketry = 2
PCEP (Python Certified Entry Level Programmer) = 35
PCAP (Certified Associate in Python Programming) = 5
Solidworks CSWA = 2
Gaining Certifications!
Gaining Certifications!
By Jeremiah Kuspa
Something that is awesome about CTE and the STEM academy is that they give students opportunities to earn professional certifications. CTE and STEM offer certifications from a large variety of industry standard software and fields, including ones from OSHA, Microsoft, Autodesk, Adobe, Testout, CompTIA, and Python. And most of these certifications are quite easy for students to get, so why not get certified?
Certifications are very valuable, as they can help students in real world experiences and in their future careers. After acquiring them, students obtain a professional document with their name on it (it might even have a gold stamp!) and a badge that proves they are certified. Anyone can claim they have skills and knowledge in a given subject, however, certifications give employers a credible third-party assessment and validation of one’s experience. This grants students a tremendous advantage over their peers who are not certified. Certifications also display a student’s willingness to put in the time and effort needed to achieve their goals, and because of the increasing demand for experience in different softwares by various jobs and companies, certifications are more valuable than ever.
To give students the maximum time to earn a plethora of professional certifications, STEM sets out goals for which certifications students should work to obtain each year. Ninth grade freshmen are given the goal to earn certifications in OSHA 10, MOS (Microsoft Office) PowerPoint and MOS Word. Tenth grade sophomores work to obtain certifications in the industry or career of their choice, such as PCEP (Certified Entry-level Python Programmer), Autodesk Revit, and MTA: Microsoft Security Fundamentals. Eleventh grade Juniors earn certifications in MOS Excel, Autodesk Fusion 360, and MOS Expert (Word or Excel), and finally, seniors gain the opportunity to obtain the distinguished OSHA 30 certification. Altogether, STEM students have gone on to earn over 400 certifications in this school year.
Certification Overview:
STEM students have the opportunity to earn professional certifications in multiple career fields - 501 certifications to be exact. Certifications can offer students valuable technology driven skills and preparation for college or the workforce. Throughout the year students learn applications related to their course, take practice tests and can take a certification exam in areas such as Microsoft, Adobe, Autodesk, Computer Science, and OSHA.
Certification pathways offer our STEM students pathways into multiple career fields, real world experiences, and valuable skills that they can apply to their future job, college or career journey.
Making & Baking Bread
Making & Baking Bread
By Dylan Haynes & Brock Ramey
The bread making experience in environmental sustainability was a doozy. Starting off as a naive attempt to create a product made from the fermentation process, led us to baking bread in a class known for testing water and other organic organisms. From this, we decided to split into our own factions with half the class creating a chocolate based bread and the other half going with the time tested white bread. During our first attempt at the bread baking process our inexperienced showed through with multiple tables covered in flour dust and hands caked with dough.
The main problem that many were running into was that the center was undercooked compared to the crust which made for an underwhelming tasting experience. Test two we were able to alleviate many of the mistakes present in test one with most people deciding an increase in temperature while baking was needed so that the bread could be fully cooked. This was a success with the bread coming out better than ever. To this day I would say that I had the best bread in the class (not counting Ms. Martin) due to my infinity of “feeling” out the ingredients as I went along. In the end I would say that this was a fun send off to the lab section of environmental capping off a year of fun with my colleagues. - Dylan Haynes
The Bread Project was one of my favorite projects in environmental Sustainability. The project focused on the idea of fermentation and how fermentation is used in a lot of the foods we eat. We were given a lot of freedom in how we made our bread, getting to choose our own recipe and type of bread to make with the only constraint being it had to use yeast as the main fermentation process. Overall it was a very fun project for everyone.-Brock Ramey
It's A Zoo Out There!
It's A Zoo Out There!
By: Matthew Lebanik
Overall the zoo project as a whole went well. The field trip that started the entire project went roughly for some, but better for most. We were separated into groups of around twenty. This helped keep everyone coordinated but also strained the teachers as there was only one per group. Additionally, people decided to make really stupid decisions that they really shouldn’t have, but that for me at least was a minority. My group and the people I interacted with in other groups all seemed to be rational. I also feel that it helped people make informed decisions about their habitat design as looking at pictures doesn’t explain everything.
The project also went fine for most, but rough for others. The different aspects of being in different classes caused some difficulty especially for those with only biology together. Groups lacking accountability measures also struggled as it caused unnecessary stress to those actively trying but rewarding those that didn’t. But in the end, most groups finished with complete and polished products. I made some mistakes, but ultimately what I made was something I am proud of. This project establishes what I assume will be key features for my future STEM classes and my life as a whole. It ensures that you learn essential modeling skills and penalizes those that don’t. Additionally, it gives versatile skills like teamwork, research, communication, and accountability which will all be part of any career.
Ultimately, I would recommend projects like this for future students. It establishes future skills that are specialized and common which everyone benefits from. It also provides a rewarding experience for those that care about the field. Furthermore, it benefits even those that are leaving the academy, not only those staying. It stands as a test that costing by won’t overcome. This makes the people staying rethink how they go about their school life while also letting people realize that this isn’t something that they aren’t willing to do again. This project helps round out everyone while giving them a sense of what is to come.
1 to 3 - 4 Challenge!
1 to 3 - 4 Challenge!
By: Rylan Partin
What was the 1 to 34! Challenge? We were tasked with constructing a rocket that could carry a 1-pound payload to an altitude of 3,400 feet, adhering to specific time and budget constraints. This challenge fostered hard work, creativity, and meticulous attention to detail. I devoted nearly all of my free time to the project, ensuring that the rocket was fully functional.
Building a rocket was no easy feat; we started with smaller rockets to master the fundamentals under the guidance of our expert, Mr. Spargue. Despite making several mistakes along the way, these errors ultimately contributed to our improvement and learning process. My team and I were able to tap into our creativity, thoroughly enjoying each stage of this project.
Not only did we design our rocket by adhering to the challenge's requirements, but we also imposed additional constraints such as making it the tallest and implementing tube fins. The planning and construction process enabled us to see both the strengths and weaknesses in our design. Personally, I found assembling the electronics bay the most rewarding part since it unveiled how every component worked together within the rocket.
After completing the construction phase, we proceeded with painting and designing our theme – inspired by creativity and STEM, we chose Lego as our motif. In line with this theme, we named our team S.A.L. (Surface to Air Lego). This project allowed me to fully immerse myself in a creative environment while broadening my skills and learning from past mistakes. Through this experience, I have truly grown as a rocket builder.
Events & Announcements
Events & Announcements
Goodbye to Our Space
Goodbye to Our Space
While we are excited to move to new spaces, saying goodbye to our original home is hard!
In 2009, the STEM Academy started with just a few teachers and only 9th & 10th graders. The first few rooms were 613, 615, 617, 618, and 620. As the academy grew the following year, we gained a few rooms in the 700 hall - 717 went from a kitchen to biology, 718 became an architecture room and 714/716 became our Aerospace Engineering space. In 2011, the windows into the hallway were added - officially called the "fish bowl" by our STEMers. The same year, the hallways were painted red, white & blue - mirroring our original logo. Through the years, we have gained more rooms in both the 600 and 700 halls, had walls removed and added more space for our growing academy.
In 2018, all academies were rebranded using the new CTE logo and we gained a "Maker Space" for our 3D printing lab and other equipment.
We have lovingly called our space the "STEM halls" - and you could find our students walking donuts during the before school times just to make sure they saw all of the teachers & friends.
Both Mrs. Garrett & Mrs. Helmick joined STEM in 2010 as science teachers and have been with the academy through all of the changes - only missing the inagural year of STEM. They both reflect fondly on all of the projects, experiences and students who have come through these halls. "It's sad to leave the rooms where our academy grew up... but it feels like we are opening a new chapter in STEM life" shared Helmick. Mrs. G echoed the sentiment stating, "I will always have fond memories of the STEMers and times spent in 600/700 hallways - but making new memories will be amazing."
The 600/700 hall will soon be home to other awesome NHS teachers. Though it will look different, we know that they will love these spaces as much as we have. Thanks for everything STEM halls!
STEM & CTE Moving In
STEM & CTE Moving In
By Samuel Appiah
What a year! This has been one of the fastest school years I can remember. I have heard the saying “I can remember it like it was yesterday”. I always thought it was an odd saying, but now looking back on it I can actually say “I can remember it like it was yesterday”. This was a fantastic school year and I know the next school year will be even better.
Next year, WE’RE MOVING! STEM is getting our own area in the school. I am very excited as well as the facility and students. Mr. Thornton gave me a quote about his excitement about the new wing “I cannot express how excited I am for students to see the new addition. The amount of detail in the architectural and interior design will blow you away”. Ms. Jackson also had something to say about the New Wing “I couldn’t be more excited to see our STEM Academy and Career and Technology students benefit from state-of-the-art facilities in a beautiful new building! I am very interested in seeing how our students interact with the new collaboration spaces in the new wing! What a great time it is to be a TEXAN!!”
It's not just the faculty that is exciting, but my peers and I are as well. Braxten Rice said “I am so thrilled for the new wing for my final year in high school. I love my old classroom, but I am excited for this new learning environment". Mr. Odems had to say this about the wing “having a STEM Wing is a direct example on how much STEM and CTE contribute to the schools identity.” As you can see our whole school is excited about the wing and everybody is ready for this great learning environment. This new wing is a symbol of how much STEM works and I am so ready for this next school year.
The STEM Academy will join other CTE programs in the new wing - health sciences, business, computer science and teaching/training will be leaving their spaces in the 800 hall and moving in to new spaces in the new wing.
Women in STEM
Women in STEM
By Emily Eligio
Although the percentage of women in STEM has increased significantly in recent years, women continue to only make up 28% of the total STEM workforce as of 2023. Due to this, it can be difficult for young STEM-minded ladies to latch on to strong role models in their personal lives, since many of the careers they are pursuing are likely to primarily contain men over women. The STEM Academy recognizes this need, and hosted the Women in STEM event on February 23rd, 2023 to highlight the real world experiences of many of our local female civil engineers, architects, emergency management professionals, electrical engineers, and radiation oncologists.
This day consisted of advice on issues that are more particular to women in STEM fields, guidance on how to go about accomplishing future career goals, and an overall adventure through the lives of some of our local female leaders. Whether it was Huckabee architects who worked with the school district, young civil engineers who were paving their way through rigorous courses and exams, or one of our very own STEM Academy alumni, each of the speakers’ lectures as well as Q+A sessions were meaningful to our success-aspiring STEM students. For many, this event represented a more concrete view of their future and the possibilities it could potentially hold. One such student, STEM Academy Junior Morgan Dinh, described this event as “a completely novel experience” and “a refreshing reminder that you really can achieve everything you want.” Echoing these same sentiments, STEM Academy Junior Zoe Odems said that this experience “was an amazing opportunity to network and see other girls like me thriving in their own dreams.”
Despite the personal success that each of our speakers had achieved, they were not hesitant to share about the adversities that they had faced to get to this point. They offered advice, connected with our students on a personal level, and really humanized themselves in order to further exemplify just how much effort it takes to persevere. Kay Meyer, one of our STEM Academy Freshmen, wrote that being able “to see women being successful across all STEM fields was very cool to see” particularly because “a lot of those women broke barriers in order to do what they want.” Personally interacting with not only strong, successful women, but also human beings who could empathize and be powerfully vulnerable was a highlight of this experience and a defining moment for many of the students who attended.
Overall, Women in STEM was a day full of empathy, hope, inspiration, and reaffirmation for our female STEM Academy students. It allowed young girls to truly imagine themselves in a future STEM field, and many are eager to see this event continue throughout the years. Perhaps even some of our own current female STEM Academy leaders will be able to return one day to inspire future classes with their own stories of success, determination, and the role models that allowed them to push forward.
ACE Mentor Program
ACE Mentor Program
By Cadence Fleischer
The ACE Mentor program is a national afterschool program that focuses on the Architecture, Construction, and Engineering fields. The ACE program reaches over 10,000 students annually and has over 75 chapters across the country. As well as supporting their students through creating real-world opportunities and providing scholarships and grants. The ACE mission is to engage, excite and enlighten high school students to pursue careers in architecture, engineering, and construction through mentoring and to support their continued advancement in the industry. The program gives students an insight into the design and construction fields through hands-on activities, tours, and one-on-one interactions with industry professionals.
The students met once a week where the students got to learn different specialties in the design and construction field. Each of the mentors gave presentations detailing what their career is, their education, and their background. The wide range of careers allows students who are unsure of their path to explore all of the possibilities. Fort Worth ACE director Kate Dunfee says “Our program allows students to try out the design field, and if you find your passion and discover that you love it great, but if ACE is the reason you decide this field isn’t for you then you won’t have to learn that in college when there are consequences.” This program is dedicated to guiding students toward their passions and helping them pursue them.
ACE mentors do much more than tell their own story, they help students with career advice, which colleges have the best programs, and resources for scholarship and financial aid opportunities. Every mentor was also willing to sit down with a student and answer their questions, whether it be about what their average day is like or what aspects of their job are the most rewarding. These connections last for a long time and there are mentors all across the country who are always willing to help ACE students and Alumni.
Each year ACE students are divided up into teams and are given a design task. This year, each team had to design a FIFA world cup stadium based out of Fort Worth. These teams were paired up with one or two mentors and were given a set of criteria for their stadium. Over the course of a few months, they worked through the same design process that ACE professionals use when creating their projects. This process involved many different careers such as electrical engineering, Interior design, and architecture. Each career had an activity that went along with our main project so students were able to experience what the role of each job plays in the overall project.
A huge part of this project was the layout of the stadium, so the ACE program was given a private tour of the TCU Football stadium with one of the people who designed it. Tours and field trips are one of the things that set ACE apart, participants are given access to things that usually would be out of reach, such as seeing the maintenance tunnels and underground layout of the stadium.
This year we had 12 STEM students join the program, this is the largest group to have participated so far. STEM is made up of 3 separate teams 2 all Senior teams and one Junior team. The Junior team which included Evan Garcia, Stacy Petty, Nairah Cuevas, and Morgan Dihn, won first place in the design competition. They were awarded tools to help them further their career paths, and are excited to participate again next year. Evan Garcia had this to say about his experience in the program “ My experience at Ace was super fun and beneficial. I got to explore different aspects of architecture that I never would have seen before and I was able to connect with professionals in the industry. Architecture is the field I want to pursue as a career, so getting a hands-on experience was really fun and exciting and worth it for me.“ The Junior team showcased their ability to present and their passion for architecture. We can not wait to see what they bring to the table next year.
Two STEM Seniors, Cadence Fleischer and Ayden Lalani, received substantial scholarships through the ACE program. Cadence believes that “everyone who is interested in architecture or engineering should definitely look into this program. I have had such an amazing experience throughout my time here and have learned so much. My mentors have given me amazing opportunities and advice and they have helped guide me to my next steps in life.”
Hillwood: Student Influencer Group
Hillwood: Student Influencer Group
By Matthew Pitts
Being a part of the Alliance Student Influencer Program has been an immensely enjoyable and enriching experience. As one of the hand-selected students from local school districts, I have had the privilege of collaborating with incredibly talented and driven individuals who are the future leaders of our generation. Over the 9-month program, I have been fully immersed in AllianceTexas, gaining real-world experience through facility tours, interviews, networking opportunities, and hands-on project planning. The opportunity to work with both business professionals and fellow high school students has fostered a strong sense of collaboration and growth. The Alliance Student Influencer Program has truly been an invaluable journey that has empowered me and provided a platform to make a difference.
In 2022-2023 STEM had two students particpate, Emily Eligio and myselft, but next year we have more! Excited to see how their year goes with the Student Influencer group.
Student Wins 2nd Place in National Design Competition
Student Wins 2nd Place in National Design Competition
By Arianna Owens
For the NAWIC, I entered the Design Drafting competition for 2022-2023, a contest designed for Senior High School and College level students. This year's prompt students were tasked with creating a restorative community center that serves as a safe and equitable space within the community with areas for community events, police outreach, and youth court.
In doing so, I took this task, the biophilic architectural style requirement and research of the environment in Arizona (the provided location for where the center was being built). After all this, I waited for the results and learned I had placed 2nd in the competition, winning $220. When I received the e-mail and certificate, I had the biggest smile on my face.
Culture Cafe
Culture Cafe
By Bonnie Laffon
During our sophomore year, we were given the opportunity to create a restaurant based on a culture. The culture we were tasked with was based on the culture represented in a book of our choice. The project started with in-depth research into our book’s culture. First, we began brainstorming ideas for our restaurant layout, kitchen design, and dimensions. My team’s culture was Cuban, and we made quick work of creating a menu, culturally appropriate furniture, and color palette. We thoroughly enjoyed brainstorming, as we were allowed the freedom to create a restaurant design that reflects Cuban culture accurately. We then collaborated to finalize our restaurant and kitchen layout in order to transition to the second half of our project.
Creating our 3D rendering was difficult, as our team had trouble finding a software that is collaborative. We resolved this issue by creating a group account, and began designing. When we created our restaurant digitally, it helped my team visualize what our final product would be. It also gave us a roadmap for the design of our model physically. We gathered the materials needed in order to begin constructing. Cardboard and poster board were the medium we were provided with; while it was difficult working with cardboard over wood, we still utilized it in the best way possible. Our model’s progress was running smoothly, with two team members working on the model while another worked on our presentation. During the later portion of our project, we were able to begin painting and decorating. Watching our design materialize was very rewarding. The final product was complete through team collaboration and thorough communication.
I learned through this project how to effectively manage a team of three in order to achieve the same goal. Meeting everyone’s expectations was a challenge, but we were able to come to a common ground. We all learned about the history of Cuban culture through this project, and developed our research skills. If my team had the opportunity to design another restaurant, we would set checkpoints or personal deadlines for ourselves, in order to have an organized workflow. This project was challenging, but we faced it head on and are incredibly proud of our product and we are grateful to have had this opportunity.
DFW STEM Alliance
DFW STEM Alliance
The STEM Academy was honored to be invited to the first "DFW STEM Alliance Showcase" on May 13th. Our top three EDD: Presents! teams, Field View, HaBEEtat & Maintainer, advanced to participate in the event with Keller ISD EDD students.
During the event, the teams presented their research posters and prototypes to a panel of judges. After all judges had scored the table presentations, the top three teams were announced. We were thrilled to hear "Field View" advance to the finals.
Ayden, Casen & Andreas presented their EDD Project "Field View" which helps sight impaired individuals monitor the game ball using a touch sensor table at the stadium. After all three teams who advanced presented, Field View was announced as the wining team! The three members walked away with a trophy and engineering laptop valued at $1400.
We are so proud of all three teams who participated in the event! Their projects, ability to speak professionally to judges and knowledge did not go unnoticed. Shout out to Cadence, Olivia, Kaitlin, Elle, Aiden & Ava who did a stellar job!
Banquet: A Night In Vegas
Banquet: A Night In Vegas
By Kaylyn Meyer
If you followed the sound of laughter and music at the student union on April 29, you would have found yourself in the 2023 STEM Academy banquet. With awards and recognition, this banquet was a night to remember for all people involved. Featuring food, dancing, and even a 360 photo booth, the STEM booster club outdid itself at this Vegas-themed end-of-year school celebration.
Students honored the teachers that are the very backbone of the STEM Academy with heartfelt speeches and caped off the year the students have had. The new STEM council was announced and we look forward to seeing all the cool things the leadership has in store for the next school year. And while we are sad to see them go, time was set aside to celebrate the accomplishment of the seniors and wish them luck in their future endeavors.
We were all ‘feeling lucky’ by the end of the night as the dancing and festivities concluded. The 2023 STEM banquet gave students an opportunity to enjoy looking back at the cards they were dealt this year and end on a high note.
STEM Council Officers Announced
STEM Council Officers Announced
Each spring the STEM Council Officers are named for the upcoming year. This year, those announcements were made at the banquet and through personal emails and social media posts. We are excited for an awesome 2023-24 school year!
Congratulations to our new officers! Are you interested in being part of STEM Council? We would love for you to join us ... think of STEM Council like a student council but for STEM! Our officers lead meetings, plan events, and work with the booster club to ensure we have a great year in STEM.
President: Gabby F.
Vice President: Emily E. & Evan G.
Secretary: Bonnie L.
Treasurer: Stacy P.
Historian: Maxine N.
Public Relations: Samuel A. & Dylan H.
Senior Rep: Morgan D., Cameron G., Naana K., Zoe O., Matthew P.
Junior Rep: Keller B., Owen H., Reid J., Samuel M., Hunter S., Tanmayee T.
Sophomore Rep: Liz E., John K., Kay M., Von D., Shabeer Z.
Freshman Rep: Coming Soon- Fall 2023
Voting Members:
James B., Tyree F., Aganze H., Jeremiah K., Jason J., Stephanie J., Ayanna J., Ankur L., Rylan P., Caitlin S., Ana Z.
Supply Lists for the Fall
Supply Lists for the Fall
We shared the School Supply List a few weeks ago but wanted to mention it here too -
While STEM/CTE cover many of your supplies, there are several things that you will want to have for the fall:
Each student needs a planner, wireless mouse and a flash drive - plus pens/pencils of course!
These items are important to YOUR success in your STEM classes and beyond! Get the year started on the correct (and organized) foot!
Summer Reading
Summer Reading
Growth over the summer is key -
Growth over the summer is key -
Our 9th grade students will continue reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey. This book is a great read and helps students learn how to manage their time and actions for success.
Our 10th grade students will be reading Dream Differently by Vince Bertram, the CEO of PLTW. We are excited to use this text to help engage our students (and parents!) in great discussions about how to think forward to the future.
The 11th grade students will be reading Grit by Angela Duckworth. This book is an in depth look at how having passion and persevering helps students achieve success.
Last but not least, our seniors are taking on the summer reading for STEM Seniors, How to College: What to Know Before You Go. While the title is about college, this book really covers huge topics of "life" -- like understanding credit, lease agreements, health insurance and how to find support on a college campus and in communities. We are excited about how this book will guide conversations within our classrooms and beyond.
All of the summer reading books will have discussion elements and assignments in multiple STEM courses starting in the Fall. Students should check their email to find our more about the summer assignments. We are excited about the conversations that these new reads will start with our students and parents! Join us as we read these books, discuss their importance on our lives and share our pathway to success!
Stay "in the know" by following our official social media accounts!
Stay "in the know" by following our official social media accounts!
Page updated
Report abuse