WHAT: STEM Day free event
WHEN: Saturday, February 24, 2024, 10 a.m. -2 p.m.
WHERE: Doyle Ryder Community Education Center, 1040 N. Saginaw St., Flint, MI
WHO: Michael Nazarian, Program Director of STEMNETICS; Jason Lorenz, Lead Instructor of STEMNETICS; David Ibegbu, President of Kettering University NSBE chapter; Dr. Natoya Coleman, Principal of Doyle-Ryder Community Education Center; Sherwin Prior, CEO of KUHMUTE
FLINT, Mich. – Science and fun for Flint area kids will be on hand for a special STEM Day event at Doyle-Ryder Community Education Center on Saturday, February 24, 2024. This free event is being presented in a collaboration between STEMNETICS and Doyle-Ryder. The purpose of the event is to bring STEM to kids in a fun way while showing them the exciting fields available to pursue.
Students will get to experience activities that utilize the concepts of science, engineering, math, problem solving and teamwork. Also included during the event will be demonstrations of technology and scientific principals, testimonials from current Kettering engineering students and a special keynote speaker. Lunch, snacks and bus transportation from sites currently serviced by STEMNETICS will be provided for free.
STEMNETICS is Flint-based company started in 2014 by Seun Phillips with the help of local STEM enthusiasts, including engineers, educators and others who believe in the company’s mission. Currently, STEMNETICS is partnered in Flint schools for in-class programming, as well as several local organizations providing after-school services to provide supplemental, STEM-based activities. Support for STEM Day activities, as well as programs conducted within the City of Flint is provided by the Ruth Mott Foundation and the Community Foundation of Greater Flint.
STEMNETICS currently provides in-school programming for Eisenhower Elementary School, Flint Cultural Center Academy and Doyle-Ryder Elementary. Past cooperation has included both Holmes and Brownell elementary schools in Flint, as well as Mason Elementary in Grand Blanc and Clio Elementary School. STEMNETICS also provides after-school programming to Berston Fieldhouse’s Chosen Few Arts Council, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Flint, and two sites of the YMCA of Greater Flint’s Safe Places program.
Doyle-Ryder is a partner site with STEMNETICS, providing location services and volunteers. This will be the second year of cooperation between the school and the company.
“Our scholars look forward to the innovative projects and engaging lessons offered by STEMNETICS,” said Dr. Natoya Coleman, principal of Doyle-Ryder.
Coleman added: “It is complementary to our curriculum and is now a part of our school community!”
The mission of STEMNETICS is to design and provide youth programs to prepare students with 21st Century Skills through the utilization of hands-on activities.
“Each of our project challenges students to think critically as instructors guide them to be effective problem solvers,” said STEMNETICS Executive Director Seun Phillips.
Phillips added: “Our curriculum is designed to help students to think outside the box and apply their educational knowledge to real-world situations, and our motto is ‘Learn it. Build it. Move it’.”‘
STEMNETICS has also expanded to include a branch that offers programming to the greater Los Angeles area, and looks to grow even further.
