‘Everyone Wins’ at Annual Hawai‘i STEM Conference

Students learned how ordinary items from a hardware store can come together in extraordinary ways during a breakout session entitled “Common Items, Uncommon Results,” led by Carrera Catugal and Tammy Gomes of HouseMart/Ben Franklin Crafts. Courtesy photo.

The Hawai‘i STEM Conference held May 6 and 7 proved once again that everyone’s a winner when it comes to STEM education; Maui County students brought home a dozen awards.

This 2016 conference theme was “download knowledge, upload service,” which emphasized the role the conference played in promoting and developing the skills of students to become innovative thinkers.

“Whether it’s empowering our youth through science, technology, engineering and math—STEM; providing our teachers with needed STEM-based resources and tools; or inspiring our state’s next generation of innovative thinkers and doers – STEM has the power to impact us all,” said Isla Young, MEDB’s K12 STEM program director.

Students learned about sUAS (Small Unmanned Aerial Systems), commonly known as drones, in a breakout session led by George Purdy of Drone Services Hawaii. Courtesy photo.

Hawaiian Language Immersion students from Moloka‘i Middle and Moloka‘i High Schools were among the 112 schools and organizations statewide who participated in the 2016 Hawai‘i STEM Conference. Courtesy photo.

This year’s Hawai‘i STEM Conference featured over 43 student breakout sessions, 16 teacher professional development breakout sessions and 15 STEM competitions.

Students learned how ordinary items from a hardware store can come together in extraordinary ways during a breakout session entitled “Common Items, Uncommon Results,” led by Carrera Catugal and Tammy Gomes of HouseMart/Ben Franklin Crafts. Courtesy photo.

ʻĪao School sixth graders Joshua Franco, Bradley Bumanglag and Shayne Enomoto learn the basics of software programming during Microsoft’s Hour of Code breakout session. Courtesy photo.

Over 800 students, teachers and industry professionals participated in the two-day conference which offered over 43 student breakout sessions, 16 teacher professional development breakout sessions and 15 STEM competitions. A total of 112 schools and organizations statewide were represented.

“One of our goals in providing these types of STEM events and programs is to encourage our youth to use STEM as a tool for making a positive difference in their community,” said  Young. “By all of us working together we can help Hawaii’s students access the wonderful world of STEM and provide experiences that will foster the next generation of innovators, educators, and leaders.”

Students also had the opportunity to participate in STEM competitions.

Held at the Wailea Marriott Resort on Maui, this annual statewide conference was presented by MEDB’s Women in Technology project, a statewide initiative of the Maui Economic Development Board. WIT is funded in part by the US Departments of Education and Agriculture, Office of Naval Research, State of Hawai‘i and the County of Maui.

For more information on the Hawai‘i STEM Conference, go online.

MAUI COUNTY WINNERS

· On-Site Video Competition – Bernard Sula, Milmar Villanueva (Maui High School)

· T-Shirt Design Competition – Thanthawat Moengchaisong (King Kekaulike High School)

· What is STEMworks™ Competition – Evan Aquinde, Jayboy Badua, Josh Cui, Jadynne Zane (Maui Waena Intermediate School)

· High School PIA Competition – Chelsea Kau, Shanelle Macaraeg (Baldwin High School)

· On-Site Cyber Spyware Competition – Maya Ooki, Jeremie Amano, Kai Richardson, Michael Reeves (King Kekaulike High School)

· PSA Competition – Shanell Pugal, Jada Chang, Roxanne Agtang, Sydney Dempsey, Jordyn Paa (Maui High School)

· Inter PIA Competition – Christine Alonzo, Czerena Bayle, Tiana-Lei Juan, Jadynne Zane (Maui Waena Intermediate School)

· On-Site Design Pitch Competition – Zoe Whitney, Allyza Sayno (Maui High School)

· Music Competition – Emmanair Rich (King Kekaulike High School)

· Photography Design Competition – Allyza Sayno (Maui High School)

· STEMworks™ Tech Tips Competition – Kyle Alquisalas, Jake Arnsbrak (Maui High School)

· Game Design Competition – Sean Graefen (Kaua‘i High School)

NEIGHBOR ISLAND WINNERS

· Royer Onsite Competition – Marleen Tana, Alana Kahawai (Roosevelt High School)

· CAD Showcase Application Competition – Loi Phan, Jasmyn Ann Carlos (Waipahu High School)

· GIS – Storytelling with Maps Competition – Bernadette Dela Cruz (Farrington High School)

Click here to view all the winning videos.

CONFERENCE COMMENTS

“Programs like this STEM Conference, where you can go and explore your passion, is really the best,” said Luke Jones, a senior at Kīhei Charter School. “Every time I come, there’s always something new and I’m excited to learn more.”

“What I like best about the conference were the breakout sessions,” said Raymond Andrade, a senior at Baldwin High School. “It’s one big get together of all these schools, trying the latest technologies and working together. Whether it be coding or engineering or math-based programs or digital media, there’s a session for practically everyone here which is pretty amazing and well organized.”

Karen Roberts, an eighth-grade science teacher at Lokelani Intermediate, shared her thoughts on the conference. “This experience is definitely life-changing. My students were motivated and excited to share their community-based STEM learning projects with others their own age and with adults. It also gave us, as teachers, the opportunity to bring back new curriculums that will encourage 21st century learning.”

“One of the big benefits for students attending this conference was they got to meet other students who have similar interests,” said Keith Imada, a STEMworks facilitator at Maui High School. “As teachers, a lot of times we put students together who are in STEM or science, but they don’t always have the same interests. But here, they have similar goals, motivations, frustrations, and accomplishments. They are proud of what they’ve done and get to share with other students who understand what they’ve gone through.”

“The high energy 5×5 sessions were invaluable for students as it offered them a rare opportunity to have direct access to professionals in the STEM field,” said Emily Haines-Swatek, career and technical education coordinato,r and MEDB’s STEMworks teacher at King Kekaulike High School. “They got an idea of the wide variety of careers available, as well as the benefits and challenges they may face on the road to such a career.”

Tessie Lumabao, a STEMworks teacher at Waipahu High School, agreed with the impact of the 5×5 session. “Students got to network with industry professionals that specialize in fields that they are interested in. Experts shared how they can prepare for these specialties, why attending college is important and encouraged students to continue to pursue their passions.”

CONFERENCE SPONSORS

County of Maui
Office of Naval Research
US Department of Education
US Department of Labor
County of Maui
Hawai‘i Energy
MEDB Ke Alahele Education Fund
National Science Foundation
National Security Agency
Cyberwatch West
Microsoft
Airforce Research Laboratory
Trimble SketchUp
Pacific Center for Advance Technology Training
Monsanto
Opterra Energy Services
STEM Pre-Academy
Mount Mercy University
ExploreU
King Kekaulike High School
Maui High School ACOM
Camp CenterStage
NASA
3D Academy
Elemental Minds
Hawaii Geographic Information Coordinating Council
esri
Maui Electric Company
devleague
Drone Services Hawai‘i
Goma Games
Hawai‘i Division of Aquatic Resources
Ben Franklin Crafts/Ace Hardware by HouseMart
Hawai‘i State Department of Education
University of Hawai‘i Institute for Astronomy
University of Hawai‘i Maui College
University of Hawai‘i Manoa College of Engineering
University of Hawai‘i Hilo College
University of Hawai‘i Mānoa College
Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

STEM CONFERENCE 2017

Microsoft will bring additional opportunities to Maui County next year with two “Digi Camps,” made possible through a Digital Alliance program between the County of Maui and MEDB’s WIT program.

Students from King Kekaulike High shared their STEM projects with Gov. David Ige and his wife, Dawn Amano-Ige, along with representatives from MEDB and Microsoft. The governor said STEM programs “encourage students to learn base skills and tools and then really apply them to real-world problems. The students get so much more out of the learning than they normally would in traditional textbook and lecture classes.” Courtesy photo.