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16STEM YEA 2024
STEM YEA is a four‐day, three‐night residential STEM-focused Academy providing equitable opportunities for rising eighth-grade students. The Academy delves into intriguing STEM areas while inspiring and engaging the students. These young people and their parents may not otherwise have this opportunity. The program, sponsored by Rotary Clubs in District 7430, was held at Kutztown University in Kutztown, PA, from July 11 through 14, 2024. The theme was “Astrobiology: the Search for Life on Mars”.
Sixty students registered for the third Academy, and fifty-five completed the four-day event. Twenty-eight female and 32 male students from 30 public middle, private and charter schools registered. There were no accidents or injuries.
Twenty-one District 7430 Rotary Clubs sponsored students for STEM YEA 2024. Students received STEM YEA tee shirts, backpacks, water bottles, lab manuals, drawing pencils, antimicrobial pens, and copies of the session manual.
Dr. Michael Seidner led a special ceremony to present the white lab coats to the students.
Many friendships were forged at the event and our 2024 STEM YEA Alumni are keeping in touch.
Curriculum
STEM sessions, project building, team building, and Rotary informational sessions were held over the three ½ days. Students built habitats, rovers, and landers from ordinary materials to display at the Science Fair which was held before the Celebration Dinner.
FACULTY
Dr. Anthony (Tony) Moyer, Ed.D., Principal of Willow Lane Elementary School in the East Penn School District, served as the Director for STEM YEA 2024. Five certified science teachers were expected to teach the sessions. However, one developed COVID a few days before our event began. Brandy Solomon, Boyertown Middle School, Steve Rhodes, and Adam Molis of the Wilson School District were returning teachers. Ruth DeLong of the East Penn School District also joined the team. Shawn Foster was unable to attend due to illness.
Students enjoyed a planetarium show presented by astrophysicist Dr. Phil Reed at the Grim science building which also houses an observatory. The planetarium also has been upgraded to higher resolution display for 2025.
College-aged interns assisted the teachers in each of the sessions. Our interns are studying STEM topics, and most of them are in graduate school. Interns for the 2024 session were Lauren Murphy, Skye Scarlet, Mike Lafferty, Aditi Mangal and Zak Claman.
Dr. Phil Reed of the Kutztown University staff provided a show in the Planetarium on Friday, July 12th.
Two Rotary sessions allowed our STEM YEA 2024 students to learn about Rotary. One session included a lively game of Rotary bingo featuring various Rotary Youth activities. Another session featured participants from Rotary Youth activities “ZOOMING” to talk about their Rotary experiences. The participants included Rotary Youth Exchange students and Interactors from around the globe.
The Rotary focused module featured international exchange students as well as an overview of what Rotary is all about.
District 7430 Rotary Volunteers
Sue Hite, CRNP, served as our exceptional nurse and Dr. Michael Seidner was our Medical Director.
Forty-two volunteers monitored dorm students overnight and engaged with them during the daytime sessions. The volunteers had meals with the students and enjoyed working with them in the labs and team-building activities.
Our STEM YEA Operational Team attended all four days of STEM YEA 2024. We are grateful for the many hours spent planning and executing STEM YEA. They come from various District 7430 Rotary Clubs and have different professional backgrounds.
Fun Facts
Two hundred fifteen students, parents, grandparents, volunteers, sponsors/donors, and Rotary District 7430 leaders attended the Celebration Dinner, which was held at the Kutztown University Dining Hall. Students were presented with Certificates of Completion and posters of the planets. District 7430 Executives attended and pledged support for future STEM YEA events.
Many sponsoring Rotary Clubs have invited STEM YEA 2024 students to attend and speak at Rotary Club meetings. Parents often attend and provide thank yous and favorable comments about the STEM YEA experience.
Jane Meckes, a member of the Nazareth Rotary Club and a volunteer for STEM YEA 2024, has joined the STEM YEA team. Jane manages all of the materials needed for our STEM and project-building sessions.
Tyler Stalletti of the Allentown Club has joined the STEM YEA team and will lead its Social Media efforts.
Please join us in sponsoring STEM YEA 2025, scheduled for July 2025. This may be the only chance for these students and their parents to participate in a program to build STEM-focused future citizens.
