Healing Through Discovery: A Pioneering New STEM Center

By Lily Baughan

August 26, 2024

Cutting-edge STEM education and compassionate care converge to transform the lives of young patients with the installation of a new Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation STEM Center. This revolutionary new initiative at Covenant Children’s in partnership with H-E-B and Covenant Hospital Foundation aims to empower kids receiving long-term medical treatments to have access to STEM learning.  This innovative program sets a new standard for hospital-based education by combining emotional support in a unique learning environment with state-of-the-art STEM education curricula.

At Covenant Children's in Lubbock, TX, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation STEM Center is a major improvement in how pediatric patients receive educational support. This program combines the best elements of therapeutic care with STEM education. Designed to cater to the needs of youth undergoing extensive medical procedures, this STEM Center marks a significant advancement in establishing a nurturing, stimulating environment that fosters education and recovery simultaneously.

The STEM Center offers both mobile and classroom learning spaces furnished with advanced technology and interactive teaching resources. With this setup, patients can participate in interactive STEM activities that can be tailored for their medical needs and level of education. “This classroom allows education to be a part of our patient’s comprehensive medical care,” said Covenant Children’s CEO Dr. Amy Thompson. “To keep kids on track, we have to keep them in school and around their peers. This hospital-based school gives them the best chance to do that.”

The STEM Center hopes to improve patients' emotional and cognitive growth by incorporating these educational opportunities into their everyday routines. This will give patients a much-needed distraction and sense of normalcy as they undergo medical treatment. This Center also provides an engagement point for siblings of patients and high school-aged mothers, who may also participate in the program.

Over the last eight years, thanks to corporate, foundation, and individual donors, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation has completed 560 STEM Centers in 24 states, impacting over 237,000 students with the help of over 13,500 trained teachers/mentors. Each STEM Center includes technology, educational STEM products, a customized curricula/lesson plans tied to Next Generation Science Standards, teacher/mentor training, and a furniture package. This STEM initiative is based on a comprehensive, evidence-based approach that encourages students to explore STEM concepts with hands-on experiences guided by trained teachers/mentors to give underserved youth access to year-round STEM education.

The Covenant Children’s STEM Center’s impact extends beyond improving education. The program seeks to improve the general health of its young patients by integrating STEM learning into their hospital stay. “This classroom allows education to be a part of our patient’s comprehensive medical care,” said Dr. Thompson. “We have to keep them in school and around their peers. This hospital-based school gives them the best chance to do that.”

This STEM Center is essential to their healing process in addition to providing educational stimulation. These kids feel engaged and accomplished when they work on STEM projects, and this can have a good impact on their quality of life and health outcomes. “There’s nothing better than getting to see that ‘aha’ moment when a kid figures out how to do something for themselves. Just getting to see those moments is why I keep coming back,” said Dr. Thompson.

Presenting an exciting addition to Covenant Children's, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation STEM Center highlights the integration of healthcare and education. For kids receiving extensive medical treatments, this program not only offers valuable educational possibilities, but it also strengthens their emotional and psychological resilience. This STEM Center has the potential to have significant long-term effects and can serve as an example for incorporating education into healthcare environments and show how teamwork can significantly improve children's lives.