More than 900 middle school students and teachers attended the Youth Symposium on Advanced Manufacturing and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education on Thursday, September 27, 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., at Timmons Arena on the Furman campus.
The event, sponsored by the Greenville Region of Personal Pathways to Success, SC Works Greenville, and Greenville County Schools, highlighted careers in advanced manufacturing (use of technology to improve products), and STEM educational opportunities available to students.
More than 25 manufacturers and STEM-related organizations showcased their products and provided information on careers. Participating companies and organizations included: 3M, BMW, Kemet, Lockheed Martin, Honeywell, ADEX Machining Technologies, Advanced Technology Services, Confluence Watersports, Robert Bosch, Fabrico, GE Aviation, GE Energy, Leigh Fibers, Caterpillar, Discovery Channel, Baldor, Southern Weaving, Advanced Composite Materials, LLC, and GTC.
Speakers included Ryan Childers, BMW, Rose Johnson, 3M, and Ginger Lawrence, Advance Technology Services.
Current STEM-related opportunities in Greenville County Schools include Gateway to Technology in six middle schools, Project Lead the Way in seven high schools, A.J. Whittenberg Elementary School of Engineering, Hughes Middle Academy applied learning lab, F.I.R.S.T. Robotics, and LEGO Robotics.
The Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher Middle School on the ICAR-Millennium Campus in Greenville will open in August 2014 with a STEAM focus, STEM plus the arts.
The school system is also working with Greenville Technical College to provide additional opportunities for advanced study in automated manufacturing and to increase awareness of higher-paying, technology-oriented careers in today’s manufacturing environment.
Facts Related to Advanced Manufacturing and STEM Education
• By 2014, there are expected to be two million jobs created in STEM-related fields (Gates Foundation).
• The number of engineering degrees awarded in the United States is down 20% from the peak year of 1985. (Tapping America’s Potential; www.tap2015.org)
• In 2005, 2.8 million students graduated from high school and 1.9 million went on to two and four year colleges. Fewer than 300,000 majored in STEM-related fields and only about 167,000 are STEM college graduates. (National Center for Education Statistics; Digest of Education
Greenville REC & SC Works Greenville
- GreenvilleREC\SC Works Greenville
- Building A Strong and Sustainable Youth Network. The Youth Council is a strategic partnership between the Greenville Region of Personal Pathways to Success and SC Works Greenville. The SC Pathways\SC Works Greenville Youth Council works to address gaps and needs that exist for youth in Greenville County. Additionally, the Youth Council works to meet the objectives identified in the 2011-2014 Greenville County Workforce Investment Board Youth Strategic Plan, the Youth Council will implement several sub-committees that will provide Greenville County Youth with a system, the resources and the information needed to successfully compete in a global economy.