STEMM Expo participants took part in physical therapy assisting activities such as visual simulation, stroke simulation, balance challenges, an obstacle course and designing an exercise program based on patient case scenarios, during a breakout session led by Sara Young and Erynn Hanford of the Edison State physical therapist assistant program.
Photo submitted by Edison State Community College
PIQUA — Edison State Community College welcomed 460 students ranging from sixth to 12th grades for a day of learning and fun during the 19th annual STEMM Expo, held on Friday, Nov. 14.
The daylong program aims to boost young students’ interest in the science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine career fields.
Sarah Lathrop, program chair, applied management, sport management and associate of applied science degrees at Franklin University, welcomed students to campus. She encouraged them to approach the day with curiosity, try new things and ask questions.
“STEMM is more than a list of subjects — it’s a way of thinking and approaching the world,” Lathrop said. “STEMM is curiosity, problem-solving, iteration, improvement, asking better questions and never assuming something can’t be done. It belongs to every single person in this room — whether you’re into robotics, biology, coding, gaming, design, athletics, health care or a field that hasn’t been invented yet, your curiosity matters. Your ideas matter. Your questions matter. Your path matters, and you absolutely belong here.”
While on campus, students chose three breakout sessions to attend in the morning with topics ranging from nursing, business and coding to agriculture, engineering and mathematics.
The day’s sessions provided an inside look at various career fields, such as “From Corn to Ice Cream — Agriculture Is More Than Farming,” where participants explored the technology and science used in agriculture to create many everyday products. In “CAD/CAM/CNC Production,” students collaborated to choose an engraving design, used CAD/CAM software to generate the “G” code program, and brought the concept to life by manufacturing the final product on a CNC machine.
Thirty-one breakout sessions were available throughout the morning, including a session led by Reid Health–Hospital & Healthcare System in which participants checked their blood pressure and heart rate, learning how to understand their numbers and take control of their health. Copeland employees provided an escape room activity that challenged students to use different STEMM-related technologies to find clues and solve the puzzle.
In the afternoon, students visited STEMM table demonstrations, which included 30 tables where students learned more about various career fields.
Representatives from Cargill Incorporated, Carried Away Salon, Copeland, Crown Equipment Corporation, Edison State, Franklin University, Honda, Inventor’s Council of Dayton, KTH Parts Industries, Maker Lab–TMCPL, McDonald’s, Med Vet, Midmark Corporation, Moriroku Technology North America, OSU Miami County Extension Office, Premier Health Dietetic Internship, Premier Health Sports Medicine, Reid Health–Hospital & Healthcare System, Tri-County Board of Recovery, Wayne HealthCare and West Central Ohio Manufacturing Partnership provided their expertise for the day’s breakout sessions and table demonstrations.