College Highlights Science, Engineering, Technology, Math during April
Preparing students to fulfill the high-paying technical jobs of the future is a top priority for the College of Southern Maryland which has expanded its focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to include a wide variety of events for students and educators.
Throughout April, Spotlight on STEM hosted by CSM and other key partners, includes a number of community outreach events and activities. These are expected to draw more than 3,500 students, educators and industry leaders. Supporting STEM programs and activities at CSM are sponsors including, Platinum Sponsor CSM Foundation; Silver Sponsor The Patuxent Partnership for robotics programs; Bronze Sponsors BAE Systems and PNC Foundation; Event Partner Sponsors Exelon Generation Calvert Cliffs Nuclear, Lockheed Martin Foundation, Sabre Systems, Inc. and Vyalex Management Solutions.
Tri-County Job and Career Fair
CSM will host a job and career fair, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., April 7, at the La Plata Campus Physical Education (PE) Center, with 40 employers from Calvert, Charles and St. Marys counties as well as business and organizations outside Southern Maryland. CSM students who are completing their degrees and certificates as well as community members are invited to meet with human resources professionals to learn about in-demand careers and current job openings. Attendees should be prepared with resumes and dressed ready to interview. To learn interviewing techniques and get Job Fair Ready, students can make an appointment to meet one-on-one with a career specialist on April 2. The career counseling is free. Contact Career Services at 301-934-7569 for an appointment.
Destination College
Throughout the year, elementary and middle schools visit CSM campuses to experience college for a day. The students participate in a variety of activities to create awareness and promote active thinking about post-secondary education opportunities including careers with a focus on STEM. At the days end students participate in a graduation ceremony that includes an acceptance certificate to CSM upon successful completion of Maryland State High School requirements.
LEGO Robotics ChampionshipJunior Division
The colleges robotics competition has reached more than 5,500 participants over the years to become the premier robotics competition among area elementary and middle school students. The April 11 competition at the La Plata Campus spotlights the skills and talents of local student teams in the construction of their robots, programming, driving and strategy, with an emphasis on teamwork. This years theme is Natures Fury and asks competitors to find solutions to prepare for and survive a natural disaster. The top 48 teams, representing 31 elementary schools and 17 middle schools, determined from earlier qualifiers, will compete for awards.
Student Success Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference
The Student Success Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference, April 17 at the La Plata Campus, is a day-long conference for K-12 teachers, administrators and college instructors, and serves to provide effective teaching tips from state and national experts in a variety of areas, including STEM. Conference tracks will feature Effective Teaching of STEM; Student Preparedness; Technology; Teaching Approaches and Strategies; and General Interest. A keynote address, Strategies for Inspiring Excellence in STEM, will be presented by Dr. Pamela McCauley, author, award-winning educator and professor leading the Human Factors in Disaster Management Research Team at the University of Central Florida. She is the 2014 recipient of the Black Engineer of the Year Educational Leadership Award.
Women + Math
In its 10th year, Women + Math introduces young women ages 13 and over to career professionals to learn what it is like to have a successful career in a field that draws heavily on math. Successful women working in fields such as healthcare, computer science, architecture, engineering, physics, meteorology and cyber security will interact with the students April 18 at the La Plata Campus in workshops as well as meet one-on-one in their fields of interest. A keynote address, STEM: A Great Choice for Girls, will be presented by McCauley, the 2014 recipient of the Black Engineer of the Year Educational Leadership Award.
For information or sponsorships on Spotlight on STEM and CSM programs in science, technology, engineering and math, visit http://www.csmd.edu/stem.