BMC holds third annual STEM competition

Photo By Ismael Ortega | Students from Socorro High School catapult balls into the goal during the Vex Robotics contest as part of the Third Annual 5-Star Innovation Cup STEM Competition at the Trading Post here March 6.  

FORT BLISS, TX, UNITED STATES

03.17.2016

Story by Ismael Ortega 

Mobilization and Deployment, DPTMS Fort Bliss

FORT BLISS, Texas - Elementary, middle and high school students participated in the Third Annual 5-Star Innovation Cup Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Competition at the Trading Post here March 6.

The event was a joint venture between the El Paso STEM Foundation and the Soldiers of the Brigade Modernization Command to give students the opportunity to compete and demonstrate their knowledge of STEM topics.

Students from more than 20 schools from El Paso, southern New Mexico and Juárez, Mexico, participated in the third annual competition. Students worked on their projects and robots for months – researching, preparing and programing.

Brig. Gen. Terrence J. McKenrick, commander, BMC, said the competition is about the future of our nation and being able to encourage students to see the benefit of science, technology, engineering and math programs.

“[The students] can engage with Soldiers and some of our civilians who work in these career fields in the Army and talk to them about the opportunities,” McKenrick said.

In the science fair portion, judges evaluated students on creativity, presentation and the use of the scientific method. On the robotics side, students built robots from the ground up to compete in events such as jousting, line following, maze solving and catapulting.

“I think this is a wonderful opportunity for Fort Bliss teaming [with the El Paso STEM Foundation] and providing this kind of venue for the kids so they can showcase their talents,” said Rod Chavez, volunteer coordinator, BMC. “Hopefully it will give them up a career path to [go] into.”

Thanks to growing attendance and participation, Fort Bliss will hold a regional competition and the first RoboRave. Winners from the science and robotics competitions will move to the regionals and have the chance to compete internationally.

A unique aspect to this competition is that it is all student-driven. Students have the opportunity to bring in whatever they worked on – no matter how big or small – and present it to the judges. In the past, students converted a motor that runs on water and brought it for judging.

Judges picked 10 finalists to present their projects to a panel of Soldiers for the grand prize. McKenrick, Command Sgt. Maj. James Coroy, command sergeant major, BMC, and Shane Haggerty, president, El Paso STEM foundation, presented nearly 50 awards and certificates to winners at Soldiers’ Hall. One individual from middle and high school were chosen as grand champions and revived first place trophy and a scholarship for college tuition.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to give back to the community,” McKenrick said. “It’s personally very rewarding for all of our [Soldiers and personnel] who are here also.”

• Date Taken: 03.17.2016
• Date Posted: 03.18.2016 11:52
• Story ID: 192845
• Location: FORT BLISS, TX, US
• Hometown: EL PASO, TX, US
• Hometown: FORT BLISS, TX, US
• Hometown: MERCEDES, TX, US
• Hometown: RIO RANCHO, NM, US