Westgate Middle School wins $5,000 STEM grant
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After being awarded a $5,000 Ohio STEM Learning Network Classroom Grant for robotics, the STEM program at Westgate Middle School will be able to purchase more robots and competitions kits like the one pictured to be used in competitions. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)
According to Megan Hernandez, communications director at East Liverpool City Schools, Westgate Middle School was one of 161 schools that won the award and was the only school in Columbiana County to receive the grant.
"The project, Going Fully Vexed, will supply the STEM lab at Westgate School with the necessary equipment to get students engaged and evolving in their robotic knowledge," a press release from Battelle, a Columbus-based research and development company, said. "The project will add five robots, competition kits and field kits to the STEM lab. This will allow more students and classes to participate in robotics at the same time increasing the level of collaboration within the school building."
Derek Drinnon, STEM teacher at Westgate Middle School, said the grant will also allow for the purchase of enhancements for the robots.
The students for the competitions will have to build and code their robots and work on mobility, maneuverability, strategy and teamwork to be successful at the competitions.
The additional competition and field kits will allow more students/teams to join students like Justin, Cameron, Hadleieh and Kaiden in this year's VEX IQ game Full Volume at the school and compete against other Columbiana County schools and those across the state.
This will prove beneficial to Westgate as, according to Hernandez, the STEM program in the middle school has nearly quadrupled the number of students participating. The school has in a year gone from 10 students in robotics to 40. The district has also expanded the program by adding STEM programs at the junior and high school.
Drinnon said the middle school now has 10 teams of four students to compete. He noted each team is working at its own pace on the robots and are at different stages. He also noted that the students are not afraid to fail and try again until they get it right.
For students like Justin, the STEM program gives him the opportunity to further develop his interests in building robots by challenging him to develop better. He said the program has helped better his skills in putting things together and comprehending directions.
Cameron, who likes building things and working as part of a team, said she enjoys being in STEM because it helps her accomplish challenges. She said her teambuilding skills have become stronger since she has been in the STEM program. She said she also believes the program will help her in the future, as she wants to become a doctor. Cameron was a member of the robotics team that competed in the world competition in Texas last year.
"It was a good experience getting to go with my team and see how all the other teams built their robots compared to ours," Cameron said of the world competition.
Hadleieh, who wants to be a physical therapist, said she is a part of STEM because she just likes building in general and it's fun to be with her friend building something. She also enjoys the teamwork aspect of it.
"I learned how to build. I had no idea how to put a Lego together before I started robotics," Hadleieh said. "It helps with everything, building in general."
For Kaiden, the interest in STEM is due to his enjoyment of building and driving robots with his friends. He said he enjoys learning how the robots work and experimenting with them.
"Every student should have access to the kind of quality STEM education that drives opportunity for families and leads to new jobs in their local communities," said Kelley Gaier Evens, director of the Ohio STEM Learning Network. "This program connects champions of STEM in local communities to a broad and deep network of STEM schools, STEM resources and peer educators."
kgarabrandt@mojonewsnews.com