Abby George from Lincoln Elementary in Pryor, programs a Lego EV3 robot during the robotics challenge at the RSU Pryor STEAM Academy. The STEAM Academy focuses on teaching technology skills to 5th and 6th grade girls from Mayes County schools.
Twenty-two Mayes County girls participated in the inaugural STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Academy at Rogers State University in Pryor earlier this month.
The STEAM Academy focused on teaching 5th and 6th grade girls about robotics, coding, animation and other related topics during the three-day camp. Monica Moore and Kathy Lee, Pryor Public School STEM teachers, facilitated the academy that included students from elementary schools from Pryor, Adair, Chouteau, Salina and Locust Grove.
The academy also included special guest speaker Sarah Perez, a chemical engineer from DuPont. Perez met with the students and described job opportunities and benefits about working in technological fields where women are often underrepresented, said Sherry Alexander, director of the RSU Pryor campus.
“STEAM aims to teach girls technology skills they can use in the real world,” she said. “Exposure to role models and hands-on activities helps students learn more about careers in those fields and can help address Oklahoma’s long-term needs in these areas.”
The STEAM Academy was made possible by collaborative efforts from Mayes County supporters. A $10,000 grant from the O.D. Mayor Foundation allowed RSU Pryor to offer the academy at no cost to students. Pryor Public Schools provided additional equipment for use during the academy, including the Lego EV3 Robotics, competitive space-themed challenge tables and programing software.
For more information, contact the RSU Pryor campus at 918-825-6117.