You May Have Missed: STEM-A-THON

When sixth-grader Jiah S. entered Graded's gates last December, the campus buzzed with electricity—quite literally!

Jiah was among more than 80 middle school students who attended the two-day STEM-A-THON, an event that drew not only Graded students but also STEM enthusiasts from St. Francis College and St. Nicholas. 

An immersive experience, STEM-A-THON offered students a choose-your-own adventure. From competitive robotics to Esports, each event was designed to stimulate intellectual curiosity. Students engaged in 12 workshops spanning the spectrum of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

“My favorite workshop was AR (augmented reality),” said Jiah. “We used AR to make name cards. It was really cool because AR can generate almost anything now.”

For Jiah, attending STEM-A-THON meant exploring her passion for STEM beyond the classroom. During the event, she was able to interact with many tools and technologies, some for the very first time, and forge new friendships.

“Graded's STEM-A-THON was more than just a day of fun,” said Middle School Design & Technology Teacher Mark Pate, who organized the event along with STEM teachers from the other participating schools. “Students explored individualized interests, connected with like-minded people, engaged with experts, and developed creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.”

As the event came to a close, STEM-A-THON participants showcased their learning by building their own PCs, planning and editing creative digital images, and flying drones. Students like Jiah went home equipped with new skills and limitless inspiration to spark their passion for science, technology, engineering, and math.