America’s Navy reaches out to students during Annual CORE4 STEM Expo

Photo By Burrell Parmer | Electronics Technician Chief Philip Castellano, Navy Recruiting District San Antonio’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) coordinator issues a sheet of aluminum paper for the “Penny Boat Challenge” to a group of female students from Whittier Middle School during the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's CORE4 STEM Expo held at the Freeman Expo Hall, Nov. 18. In addition to the aluminum paper, the group was issued 100 pennies and a tub of water. They had to build a boat from the aluminum paper, with the pennies within and place in the tub of water to ascertain if their boat would stay afloat.  

SAN ANTONIO, TX, UNITED STATES

11.07.2014

Story by Burrell Parmer 

Commander, Navy Recruiting Command

SAN ANTONIO – In a continuing effort to spread Navy awareness of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) opportunities throughout South Texas, recruiters of Navy Recruiting District (NRD) San Antonio participated in the city's Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's CORE4 STEM Expo held at the Freeman Expo Hall, Nov. 18 - 19.

The conference, consisting an all-female day and all-male day, featured leaders from the energy, science, computer, and aerospace industries and presented students with the opportunity to meet with high-profile representatives from Fortune 500 companies and governmental agencies.

Students experienced hands-on and demonstration projects, listened to speakers from exciting STEM fields, and spoke with college recruiters to discuss degree plans in interested fields and financial aid options.

According to Electronics Technician Chief Philip Castellano, NRD’s STEM coordinator, the Navy participated in the annual expo to bring awareness of STEM career opportunities and to pique the interest of students in attaining a STEM-focused career.

“I conducted over 20 sessions totaling more than 500 students featuring information and a video on the SeaPerch program and challenged the students’ aptitude during the Penny Boat Challenge,” said Castellano. “During the challenge, groups of students were given a sheet of aluminum paper, 100 pennies, and a tub of water. They had to build a boat from the aluminum paper and with the pennies within place in the tub of water. After the boat was in the water, we then discussed scientific terms on how a ship stays afloat in the water due to buoyancy and gravity.”

According to Brianna Dimas, director of education and leadership with the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the sole purpose of the expo was to get the students excited about pursuing STEM careers with a focus was on low-income school districts and those with high minority populations.

“The chamber strongly believes that there is a gap to be filled with more Hispanics and with more local San Antonio students pursuing STEM jobs. We also want to kill the myth that San Antonio does not have STEM jobs waiting for them upon graduation, because we do,” said Dimas. “We are so excited that the U.S. Navy, along with other partners, is here to tell the students that they believe in them and have jobs waiting for them.”

To learn more about SeaPerch visit www.seaperch.org.

• Date Taken: 11.07.2014
• Date Posted: 11.21.2014 12:32
• Story ID: 148483
• Location: SAN ANTONIO, TX, US