Fernley STEM Council meets before school starts

07/18/2016 06:51 AM

Joseph Maino Photographer/Reporter

With the start of the 2016-17 school year just a month away, the Fernley STEM Council held a meeting Friday, July 15 to begin its preparations.

With the ultimate goal of building and maintaining a talented local workforce, the Fernley STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) Council was founded by Brandolyn Thran and Tammy Roseberry in 2013 to improve Fernley’s school science fairs.

From left to right, STEM Council members: Dr. Joseph Maino, Phoebe Bender, Trista Speth, Majorie Mauk, Deanna LeBlanc, student Arene LeBlanc, Annie Martin, Tammy Roseberry, Tammy Dittman and Forrest Bietz.

Soon the Council expanded its mission by working with teachers, parents and school administrators to improve instruction in STEM related K-12 courses.

More than 800 people attended the February 2016 Fernley STEM Festival held at Fernley High School. The event featured 150 posters, 25 exhibitors and numerous hands-on learning experiences from area professionals with robots, drones, day/night model aircraft flying and building bridges with mini-marshmallows and toothpicks. Another STEM Council event was STEM Day at Fernley Intermediate School. A few of the topics included robotics, drones and a presentation and simulations on what it would be like to have a visual impairment.

The STEM Council consists of parents and grandparents who are also teachers, business owners, doctors, politicians, chemists, wood workers and politicians.

“We have a passion for improving the lives of Fernley’s citizens and students by improving STEM education and by increasing the community’s awareness of professional and technical opportunities in the area,” Chairperson Tammy Roseberry said.