KC STEM News & Updates

KC STEM Alliance November News & Updates

View this email in your browser

FIRSTÂ® President, Don Bossi welcomes area robotics students to MCC Business & Technology. Home to the 2014 Greater KC Regional FIRSTÂ® Robotics Competiton.

NEWS & UPDATES
Presidential Visits: KC STEM Alliance was honored to host Vince Bertram, Project Lead the Way President and FIRSTÂ® President, Don Bossi to Kansas City this Fall. Stories follow below.
IN THE NEWS:
Project Lead the Way biomedical science and computer engineering courses are engaging area high school students.
Push for more computer engineers...
Students solve mystery using biomedical science...

GIRL POWER, TOOLS INCLUDED. The 3rd Annual Perry Initiative hosted by KC STEM Alliance introduced 39 girls from 19 metro area high schools to orthopedic surgery and mechanical engineering. Rotating through 6 hands-on stations, female students worked side-by-side with Perry Initiative founder and engineer, Jenni Buckley and local Children's Mercy surgeons, Donna Paccica and Christine Cheng. They discovered that orthopedics and engineering are awesome, attainable and highly rewarding careers for women. For the full story see KCPT's Local Show story here.

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!

Help students build STEM skills at the Greater Kansas City FIRSTÂ® LEGO League Regional Championship, Saturday, January 18 at Union Station. Contact Janell Peterson, petersonj@kcstem.org, for volunteer information.

The FIRSTÂ® Robotics Competiton Volunteer Information Matching System (VIMS) is now open! To volunteer for the Greater Kansas City FIRSTÂ® Robotics Competition, March 13-15 at MCC-Business & Technology, visit www.usfirst.org/vims

Jennifer Daubendiek, teaches PLTW Biomedical Science courses at Ft. Osage High School, her alma mater and the place where she learned to love science. From right where she started, she's changing the world. You can too.

FIRST LOOK 2014 The exhibit hall at MCC-Business & Technology was filled with happy faces on Friday, November 8th as 45 regional FRC teams toured the new venue for the Greater Kansas City Regional FIRSTÂ® Robotics Competition. Don Bossi, FIRSTÂ® organization President, greeted the enthusiastic crowd and led the "pit lottery" as teams staked their claim on the pit of their choice. Thanks to all the coaches and mentors who brought their teams out for the preview.

We really appreciated FIRST LOOK. Getting the teams and mentors together gave us a chance for casual contact away from the heat of competition. Being familiar with the venue and pit site ahead time takes away one layer of uncertainty for teams. Thanks for arranging it.
Jeff Spatz - FRC Team 1986

President opens KC's Engineering Teacher Mentor Day
In his opening remarks at KU Edwards Campus-Center for STEM learning, PLTW President Vince Bertram recognized the importance of teachers in inspiring the next generation of innovators. More than 75 KC Metro area teachers and administrators connected with 20 engineering professionals and 15 post-secondary engineering programs to discuss successful transition strategies for students moving toward degrees and careers in engineering.

PLTW Biomedical Sciences Teachers know the drill. This region needs students who are interested in pursuing degrees in medicine, nursing and allied health, and are ready for the rigor these degrees demand. On October 19th, 16 teachers from nine KC metro school districts spent the day at the UMKC School of Medicine discussing college and career readiness. Course-specific breakout sessions included an opportunity to preview and participate in activities scheduled for the next day's Perry Initiative Workshop for Girls.