Nighthawk STEM Explorers Academy at Nash Community College
The Nighthawk STEM Explorers Academy at Nash Community College (NCC) has successfully concluded a busy summer filled with eight enriching STEM events designed to inspire and engage young minds. Highlighting these events was a collaborative effort between the Nighthawk Collaborative STEM Connections (NCSC) and the Nash County Migrant Education Program, which provided a transformative four-day STEM enrichment experience for migrant high school students in Nash County during the week of July 15th.
Through this partnership, students had the unique opportunity to explore STEM careers and gain hands-on experience in environmental science. They learned to collect and identify macroinvertebrates and conducted water quality tests at the NCC campus pond. In addition to mastering the use of microscopes, these budding scientists delved into discussions on various STEM careers related to environmental monitoring. The students also applied their knowledge of engineering design by programming EV3 robots to tackle a series of challenges.
This enriching experience was made possible by generous grant funding from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, which supported the animal collection and identification activities, water quality monitoring, and provided instructional assistance. Key contributors included Katie Wiggins, a dedicated Nash County teacher, Micha Johnson, an Early College student who served as a near-peer mentor, and Ivannia Trejos, an ESL educator recruited by the Migrant Education Program. The Migrant Education Program also played a crucial role in student recruitment and transportation, ensuring that all participants could easily access this valuable learning opportunity.
Both the Nighthawk Collaborative STEM Connections and the Nash County Migrant Education Program are thrilled with the success of this collaboration and are already planning future STEM enrichment experiences for high school migrant students in the region. Looking ahead, the NCSC is excited to announce that it will begin hosting after-school STEM enrichment events for high school students starting this Fall.
Nash Community College remains committed to providing high-quality STEM education and enrichment opportunities to all students, empowering them to explore, discover, and excel in the dynamic fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Parents and guardians interested in involving their high school students in these upcoming STEM opportunities for the 2024-2025 school year are encouraged to contact Reggie Cobb, Director of NCSC, at rcobb@nashcc.edu for more information.
