The SCILS Region 8 LaSTEM Center recently hosted its annual Mini Summit, bringing together students, educators, and community leaders to celebrate a year of STEM achievement across Northeast 糖心传媒.
The event highlighted the accomplishments of SCILS (STEM Collective for Innovative 糖心传媒 Stakeholders) programs and provided a unique opportunity for collaboration among partners from Region 8. More than 100 individuals attended the summit, including students and educators from PK-12 schools, higher education partners, and regional stakeholders.
鈥淭his is an opportunity for folks from everywhere to get together and celebrate what we鈥檝e accomplished this year,鈥� said Cathi Cox-Boniol, SCILS director. 鈥淭he Mini Summit allows people to network, share ideas, and realize we鈥檙e more alike than we are different.鈥�
One of the event鈥檚 goals is to expand access and momentum for STEM opportunities in rural and underserved communities. 鈥淲e feed off one another,鈥� said Cox-Boniol. 鈥淎 parish that hadn鈥檛 yet partnered with us came to the summit last year. By the end of that day, they had made connections, found inspiration, and went home ready to lead.鈥�
Cox-Boniol noted that student engagement in STEM has grown significantly, leading to the expansion of programs like KidWind and robotics competitions. Initiatives such as RECIPE for Rural STEM have further fueled this momentum by providing hands-on STEM kits and equipment to classrooms which sparked curiosity and enthusiasm among both students and teachers.
Shalonda Hester, 21st Century Community Learning Center site coordinator for Bastrop High School, said her school鈥檚 first year participating in SCILS has been impactful.
鈥淲e鈥檝e seen real growth in our students,鈥� Hester said. 鈥淭heir excitement about participating in SCILS competitions has been incredible, and they鈥檝e learned so much. This experience has opened the door for us to expand our robotics program and engage with even more students.鈥�
For Jhalil Atkins, a ninth-grader at Bastrop High School, the collaborative nature of SCILS has deepened his interest in robotics and STEM.
鈥淲orking with my friends makes the competitions more fun, but I find STEM interesting in general,鈥� Atkins said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been exciting to understand robotics in a way I never had before.鈥�
Cox-Boniol urged anyone interested in joining the SCILS community to act quickly.
鈥淲hether you're an educator or student, don鈥檛 wait to get involved,鈥� she said. 鈥淪CILS is helping ensure individuals are equipped and excited to take on future opportunities in STEM fields.鈥�
For more information about SCILS Region 8 LaSTEM Center, contact Cathi Cox-Boniol at ccox@latech.edu or region8lastem@gmail.com.