Around 1,500 kids were on the Wright State University campus Sunday to participate in the Big Hoopla STEM Challenge, the Dayton Daily News reported.
Sunday’s Big Hoopla events began with the Hoopla 4 Miler, followed by the annual STEM Challenge later in the afternoon at Wright State University’s Student Union.
Kids in grades kindergarten through eighth participated in a host of events throughout the challenge, with booths and demonstrations sponsored by local science, technology, engineering and math-focused companies.
Wright State awarded full in-state tuition scholarships to 12 students who participated in the Big Hoopla STEM Challenge.
This is the second year for the scholarship prizes, Wright State President Sue Edwards told the Dayton Daily News.
“We want every student to have the opportunity to go to college if they want to, and the number one barrier for access is finance, so we are focused on reducing the cost,” Edwards said. “We thought this would be a fabulous way to give back to the community and encourage students from a very early age that a university education is possible.”
Brad and Whitney Judy of Kettering said the chance to win a scholarship prize was a big reason they chose to attend the STEM event with their two kids, Logan and Bryce.
“It would be such a great opportunity for our boys,” Whitney told the newspaper. “And, if you were to know that you had something like that, it could make a big difference in terms of your outlook toward college, and being able to plan earlier. It would be a really cool experience.”
Edwards, who has a background in biology and physiology, said she has a passion for teaching and for sharing the joy of science with young people.
“I love getting kids excited about science, and I think one of the things that people perceive is that science is always hard, or not fun, but there are so many aspects of STEM careers that actually require imagination and creativity,” Edwards told the Dayton Daily News. “You may be a really creative kid who’s frightened by math, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be a scientist … when you think about it, you have to have an imagination to think you could get a rocket to the moon.”
Read the article at daytondailynews.com.
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