On April 24, 2010, Discoveries Unlimited held a Mini-STEM Conference for its 6th grade Valparaiso Middle School girls and their Mentors participating in the STEM Mentor program. The Conference was held at Gellersen Center on the campus of Valparaiso University. Mentors and Mentees experienced hands-on educational sessions that provided a snapshot into each area of STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas set the tone as he kicked off the event with a Welcome Address centering on the value of mentoring and the message “Be open to learning”. Charlie McGill, Executive Director of Entech Innovation Center, delivered the Keynote Address. Mr. McGill was inspirational as he discussed the role mentoring plays in the development of a business idea and examined the “Eight Qualities of Effective Mentoring”.
The educational STEM sessions were facilitated by STEM industry professionals and community leaders. Valparaiso University Staff Meteorologist Adam Stepanek and a host of meteorology students lead the group in learning about and launching a weather balloon. Matt Kras, Stormwater Engineer for the City of Valparaiso, led a session on watersheds, water quality and environmental engineering. Representatives from the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana showed the participants how computer technology is used to identify criminal suspects.
A special session was held for the Mentees’ parents on College Readiness. Eddie Melton, Community Initiative Officer of the Legacy Foundation, provided information, materials and resources for parents to help support their daughter’s educational goals.
The Discoveries Unlimited Mini-STEM Conference was sponsored by Hoeppner, Wagner and Evans, LLP and the Valparaiso University School of Engineering.
Discoveries Unlimited is a non-profit organization dedicated to mentoring middle school girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Its STEM Mentor program pairs Valparaiso middle schools girls with STEM industry professional in one-on-one mentor teams. The goal is to encourage and support our girls' interests in STEM education and careers, fostering lifelong STEM learners. Additionally, by collaborating with the business community, Discoveries Unlimited provides insight to STEM career paths available in Northwest Indiana encouraging our girls to remain in the communities that educate them, build workforce capacity and support economic development.
For more information, please contact Cathie Dull at 219.508.5606 or discoveriesunlimited@gmail.com.