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Fort Meade Alliance Debuts New STEM-Related Program for Students & Parents
Posted October 29, 2010
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Hanover, Md. -- The Fort Meade Alliance debuted STEM Family Night to more than 500 students and parents showcasing some of the exciting and innovative technology being used by companies and organizations right in their own backyard.
The event, which took place Wednesday, Oct. 27 at Arundel Mills Mall in Hanover, was created to inspire students from elementary through high school in science, technology, engineering and math.
The night was full of cutting edge technology and hands-on demonstrations designed to bolster students' interest in STEM-related careers. For instance, Lockheed Martin experimented with facial recognition apps and wireless networks, while Northrop Grumman showed how the Doppler effect works giving students radar guns to detect the speed of a train. Attendees got up close and personal with a gall bladder surgery and learned how different surgical medical equipment worked at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Students performed critical missions with First LEGO League Robotics.
STEM Family Night also offered students and parents a chance to talk to representatives from Anne Arundel and Howard County Public School Systems about their STEM-focused programs and curriculum. They also could plan for the future with insight into STEM-related studies from Anne Arundel Community College, Capitol College, College of Notre Dame of Maryland, Frostburg State University and University of Maryland University College.
"The Lockheed Martin team participated in this event hoping to inspire local students to pursue careers in engineering," said Lockheed Martin's Carrie Williams, who served as co-chair for the event with Cheryl Jaffe of Northrop Grumman. "The level of interest in emerging technologies that the students, parents and educators demonstrated at this event energized our team, and is inspiring us to seek more opportunities to get involved in STEM activities."
STEM Family Night is an extension of the Fort Meade Alliance's successful Tech Mania, which invites local 9th grade students to experience hands-on technology demonstrations from local companies during a half-day event at a college. The Fort Meade Alliance created STEM Family Night in an effort to engage younger students - and their parents - in STEM-inspired paths.
Parents play a significant role in their children's interest in STEM. In fact, in an American Society for Quality study, professional engineers said that their parents were the major influence in their decision to pursue their career field.
"We want to help inspire students at a young age," said Penny Cantwell, Fort Meade Alliance Education and Workforce Development Chair and senior vice president of CommerceFirst Bank. "Increasing awareness and interest in STEM-related fields is critical in this region with the onslaught of new BRAC-related and Cyber Command jobs. We know we have to do our part to get the future workforce ready for the jobs of tomorrow. "
About the Fort Meade Alliance
The Fort Meade Alliance is a 501(c)4 non-profit independent community membership organization created to promote and support Fort George G. Meade, its 80+ government agencies and organizations and surrounding areas as an economic asset, to promote the well being of the region with programs that support FGGM priorities, and serve as a resource to help facilitate connections that make a difference. The Fort Meade Alliance is supported by membership dues and through grants and in-kind donations from the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development and the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation. For more information, please go to www.ftmeadealliance.org.
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