Local Middle Schoolers Engage in Hands-On STEM Activities at Mercy’s Spring Open House for the Verizon Innovative Learning STEM Achievers Program
This spring, the Mercy University Center for STEM Education (MCSE), welcomed middle school students and families from across the Bronx and Westchester County to its Bronx campus to engage in hands-on STEM activities. The Spring Open House was a full-day workshop that introduced 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students and their families to the Verizon Innovative Learning STEM Achievers Program, an immersive, free, three-week STEM program that will take place this summer.
The Verizon Innovative Learning STEM Achievers program housed on the campuses of 45 colleges nationwide aims to empower middle school students from under-resourced schools to build STEM and entrepreneurship skills through hands-on instruction using next gen technology. Mercy is the only New York university to partner with NACCE to administer the Verizon Innovative Learning STEM Achievers Program. For the MCSE, administering the Verizon program furthers its mission to create learning opportunities for groups typically underrepresented in STEM.
“Seeing students and families work together on STEM activities was a great experience. Some of these families would not have the opportunity for this kind of STEM enrichment elsewhere. What I love most about this program is that it provides everyone with an equal opportunity to learn,” said Daniela Martinez, programs facilitator for MCSE.
The students in attendance hailed from New York City (Districts 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 in the Bronx and Harlem in upper Manhattan) and Westchester County (Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, and Elmsford).
With the support of the Monsignor Scanlan High School “Cyber Crusaders” robotics team, their “Girls Who Code” club, and volunteers from the Charter School of Educational Excellence, Mercy was able to create a fun learning experience for families interested in signing up their children for the summer program. The Cyber Crusaders brought their competition robot, while the Girls Who Code club brought their hand-made, pink computer. Other activities at the open house include geodesic domes, paper rockets, and a strawberry DNA activity. Students received free lunch and materials.
To learn more about the Verizon Innovative Learning STEM Achievers Program at Mercy University, visit https://www.mercy.edu/academics/center-stem-education/center-stem-education-news.
To learn more about the Mercy University Center for STEM Education, visit https://www.mercy.edu/academics/center-stem-education.
