STEM camp coming to Gadsden State Community College

STAFF REPORTS

CENTRE — Juniors and seniors from area high schools will attend the fifth annual Consortium for Alabama Regional Center for Automotive Technology (CARCAM) STEM Camp June 21-25 at the East Broad Campus of Gadsden State Community College.

STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, and the camp is part of CARCAM’s Student Career Pathway Initiative. The goal is to encourage interest and prepare students for jobs in the high-tech automated manufacturing industry in Alabama.

Participants will attend classes, complete hands-on tasks in various technical programs and tour the highly automated Hyundai Manufacturing facility south of Montgomery.

“Through STEM Camp students explore many diverse technical careers and experience real-life applications of math and science principles through hands-on learning,” said CARCAM Director Beverly Hilderbrand.

Hilderbrand said students are divided into groups named after five of the major automotive plants in the region — Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes, Toyota and Volkswagen. On campus, the participants will spend approximately two hours in classes such as collision repair, electronics, industrial automation, mechanical design and welding.

Participants will have a specific hands-on project designed by instructors and will leave the class with the item that he or she has made.

Students will build and test robots to demonstrate the principles they have learned during camp. They will be mentored by Gadsden State students and career coaches. Upon completion of the week-long camp, participating students will receive a $100 stipend.

“A four-year degree from a college or university is not necessary for all high school graduates,” said Marian Haynie, director of career transitions. “We want students and their parents to be aware that high-wage, high-demand technical careers are available throughout Alabama.”

For more information about CARCAM or STEM Camp contact Beverly Hilderbrand at 256-439-6871 or send email to bhilderbrand@gadsdenstate.edu.