District volunteers use STEM program to educate local students

Posted August 2, 2010
By David Kidd
Norfolk District Public Affairs

08/02/2010 - NORFOLK — As part of the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' ongoing educational outreach program, employees are meeting with students attending the Beazley Nauticus Ocean Quest camp to provide an overview of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, or STEM, program. Twelve students from Cradock, Waters and Churchland Middle Schools in Portsmouth, Va., attended last week's oceanography-based class at Nauticus in downtown Norfolk.

"I really believe our team's energy and presence was equally as impactful as our enthusiasm for our jobs -- the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and STEM,"said Kristen Donofrio, a biological scientist and one of the STEM speakers. "Knowing we are giving students a passion for science, a glimpse of future technology and explaining what the Corps does as it relates to high school classes available, is a fabulous feeling,"she said.

The four Norfolk District employees participating in last week's class included: Kristen Donofrio, Danit Carrier Tal, Alicia Farrow, Erika Fields and Rachel Jones.

The main goal of the Corps' high school outreach program is to "connect with today's youth and promote careers that fall under STEM, hopefully, by planting a seed at a young age so students are more prepared for high school and college,"said Jones, who is a project planner with the district's plans and policy division.

While the outreach program is still in the developmental stage, teacher intentions include providing an overview of STEM and teaching students which jobs are available under the STEM initiative and how each is a valuable asset to the Corps' mission. For Ryan Matthew, recent graduate of William E. Waters Middle School and rising 9th grader at Wilson High School, this experience has been eye-opening.

"I really like it, I learned everything I needed to know, and now I know that I would like to go into architecture or computer science,"said Matthew.

The purpose of the Beazley Nauticus Ocean Quest camp is to encourage the STEM initiative. The students enrolled in the program have an interest in science and are selected through an application process, which includes teacher recommendations and an essay.

Over the next several weeks, the members of the outreach program will contact the principals and guidance counselors of local schools to arrange other presentations during assemblies, classroom visits and lunch blocks to inform students about the opportunities that exist in STEM careers.

"Many of the children have not experienced the larger world outside of Portsmouth,"said Patricia Gorton-Jackson, camp counselor. "The goal is to make them aware of the importance of our national waterways and channels and open their minds to careers involved within these fields."