McNeese Offers Summer STEM Academy

McNeese State University is now offering a summer program focused on science, technology, engineering and math for children entering grades 1-8.

The McNeese STEM Academy is an 11-week program – May 28-Aug. 9, 2019 – that seeks to inspire and motivate young minds to explore the world around them and imagine, create, test, improve and solve everyday problems, according to Dr. Nikos Kiritsis, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. The Academy replaces the summer Kids College program.

“The STEM Academy will use engineering applications as the means to teach students critical thinking, problem solving and innovation principles through fun, imaginative, hands-on exploratory activities that integrate math and science content,” says Kiritsis.

He says the activities and projects in the classroom will be reinforced during field trips where participants are exposed to real life solutions of problems investigated in the classroom. 

Among the many topics to be explored are bridge design, rockets and rovers, Lego robotics, play dough chemistry, water resources, earthquakes, recycled material and engineering equipment.

The summer program will be held from 7:30 a.m.­ to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in Drew Hall and Kiritsis says participants can attend for a week, a month or for the whole summer.

The National Science Foundation estimates that 80% of the jobs created in the next decade will require some form of math and science skills.

“The ultimate goal of STEM education is to encourage students to take an interest in STEM subjects at an early age,” adds Kiritsis. “This is the perfect program for students to explore future career possibilities in the STEM areas.”

Registration is $80 and cost per week is $200. For more information, visit www.mcneese.edu/STEMacademy or call 337­-562-4137.            

Persons needing accommodations as provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact the ADA Coordinator at 337­475­5428, voice; 337­475­5960, fax; 337­562­4227, TDD/TTY, hearing impaired; or by email at cdo@mcneese.edu.