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LA GRANGE – Move over, sports and performing arts. There is an up-and-coming player in gaining the extracurricular attention of high school students, STEM.
Standing for science, technology, engineering and math, STEM includes robotics teams and other activities boosting teens' educational interests.
“Eighty percent of new jobs in the future will involve STEM,” said Tim Strudeman, one of the founders of the Lyons Township STEM Advisory Council.
The council was created in order to boost STEM at Lyons Township High School and the school's feeder districts. It is seen as a way to accelerate STEM education and activities throughout the Lyons Township area.
John Reardon, another founder of the LT STEM Advisory Council, said robotics teams and others involved in STEM activities are opening the door to a world of opportunities. He said schools see the value in teens being involved in STEM activities, noting the Illinois Institute of Technology provides $20,000 scholarships to teens who are part of robotics teams.
“They recognize the benefit of that experience,” Reardon said.
He said youth on robotics teams learn about mechanical engineering and other STEM subjects when working on projects.
“It is an opportunity to have fun and learn. These kids used to walk down the halls with their heads down. That's not the case anymore,” Reardon said. “And 100 percent of these kids can go professional. Take football. What, maybe 1 percent or a half of 1 percent of the players become professionals?”
Strudeman sees the council as a way to coordinate and share STEM information throughout the LT area and provide insight for schools looking to create their own activities. Maybe one school does not have the resources to have its own robotics team, Strudeman pointed out, but the council may be able to help pair those students with another school.
“We want to be able to provide students with a clear path to STEM careers,” Strudeman said.
The council recently helped with the May 18 STEMM Career Day, with the second '"m" standing for "medicine," at Lyons Township High School. The inaugural event allowed students to hear from 13 speakers in a variety of medical and STEM careers.
“It was more like an in-school field trip,” said LT science teacher David Stormont, one of the instructors who created the event. “The students could opt in to something they were interested in.”
Stormont said the speakers included doctoral and medical degree candidates who explained to students the route to get into a specific field from high school.
The teacher said the event was well-received by students, and he hopes for a repeat performance in 2018.
“I would love to bring the event back next year,” Stormont said.
He said the STEM Advisory Council has the potential to boost STEM activities throughout the feeder districts and high school.
“Anytime you can give kids experiences, you light a fire under them and they are excited about learning. That is always going to be a good thing,” Stormont said. “Kids are great. With STEM, you really have the potential for kids to see past the here and now, for kids to see technology past their phones. It is one more way to light a fire, and when you light that fire, kids are off to the races.”
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Know more
For information about the STEM Advisory Council, visit the group's website at stemadvisorycouncil.weebly.com or email LT.STEM.ac@gmail.com.