The Ripken Foundation teamed up with Devon Energy, Edgewater Federal Solutions, the Estelle H. Yates Foundation, Marathon Oil, and SIMCO to build a new STEM Center at Zia Intermediate School and Park Junior High School in Artesia, NM.
The schools' faculty and staff, including Artesia Public Schools Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education Danny Parker, are excited for the new Centers and the opportunities for innovative, out-of-the-box thinking they provide. "Our students now have a unique outlet for fostering their technological skills and stretching their imaginations," said Parker. "We are extremely grateful to the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation and the corporate partners involved in helping create bright futures in Artesia."
The Ripken Foundation STEM Centers are designed for youth organizations and schools to get youth interested in STEM through hands-on learning. Each STEM Center comes fully-equipped with the latest technology, like 3D printers, Snap Circuits, and Ozobots, the Ripken Foundation STEM Center Curriculum Guidebook for mentors, and customizable tool kits that include hands-on games and activities.
"Our focus on science, technology, engineering, and math is bringing positive experiences and new learning opportunities to youth in Artesia," said Ripken Foundation President and CEO Steve Salem. "These STEM Centers bring students together to collaborate as they engage with interactive tools, sparking their imaginations so they can achieve their full potential. We'd like to also thank Devon Energy, Edgewater Federal Solutions, the Estelle H. Yates Foundation, Marathon Oil, and SIMCO for partnering with us on this initiative."
Read more about this project in Artesia Daily Press' article here. To learn more about our STEM Center initiative, click here.