VOL. 3, ISSUE 2 Winter 2017

Top Stories in this newsletter Director’s Corner

It’s been a l-o-o-o-ng winter with all of the snow, freezing rain, school delays, and closures! Especially after Storm Stella!

Who besides me just can’t wait until the temperature gets above 60 degrees?! Through it all the STEM Magnet Program has

been enjoying the warmth of interesting classes, fun activities, and strong comraderies. It is hard to believe that we have

only seven weeks left with our seniors who will soon be off to new STEM adventures in college. In this issue of the STEM

Magnet-ic News, you will find information on what the students did over the winter break, classes they are taking this spring,

and an overview of local industries that supported our STEM efforts at Future Careers Expo 2016. Stay warm and see you in the spring!

- - Dr. Kim Bolig

STEM Student News

Page 2

Find out what courses the STEM Magnet students are taking this semester along with a correction on what two of the

students did over last summer.

Future Careers Expo 2016

Page 3

Were you able to attend the Future Careers Expo 2016 last November? If not, find out about who was there, including

extended overviews of four organizations, and start to make plans to come to the next one in November 2017.

Winter Break Program/Group Projects

Page 4 & 5

Ever wonder what the students are doing during Winter Break in the STEM Magnet Program? Find out about the

workshops and training that each track attended, the externships/job shadowing that they did and the projects they

created.

Regional STEM Education Center www.bloomu.edu/stem-center

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania kbolig@bloomu.edu (570) 389-4608

McCormick Center for Human Services, Room 3103A Dr. Kimberly Bolig, director

400 East Second Street, Bloomsburg, PA 17815

Bloomsburg University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, or veteran

status in its programs and activities as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes and University policies.

STEM Magnet Students Excel at

Governor’s School CORRECTION: In the Fall 2016 edition of the STEM Magnet-ic News,

we apologize for incorrectly stating information about STEM participants

who participated in the PA Governor’s Schools during the past summer.

Below is the corrected information.

Grace Miller from Central Columbia High School attended the month-long

summer engineering institute at Lehigh University. Grace and her four

teammates took second place out of forty-nine of her peers from seven

states for their project that involved 3D printing of an artificial coral to

restore reef habitat around the world!

During the same summer, Haewon “Jerry” Park, also a STEM Magnet

student from Central Columbia High School, attended a competitive

Governor’s School for Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University. Jerry

attended a five-week program that was made up of the best 60 STEM

(Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) students from

around Pennsylvania.

Spring 2017 Coursework!

As we moved into the Spring Semester at Bloomsburg

University, both juniors and seniors in the STEM Magnet

Program have been challenged with new courses in their

tracks.

Juniors in the STEM Magnet program are taking Pre-

Calculus or Calculus, Critical Thinking, Sociology,

Introduction to Geography, and Concepts of Biology I

during the spring semester.

Taking some of their most challenging courses yet,

STEM Magnet seniors are taking Calculus I, Calculus 2,

or Calculus 3, Anatomy and Physiology I, Physics, Computer Science, and Digital Forensics.

All of these courses are great foundations for future STEM majors either here at Bloomsburg University or

at other colleges. As the courses get more challenging, though, we hope that all STEM Magnet students

remember that there is support through tutoring and study skills available to them as part of the program

and through the university.

Attention Seniors!!! If you plan on attending Bloomsburg University in Fall 2017. We have an

application fee waiver and available scholarships for you! For additional information please contact:

Dr. Kimberly Bolig, director, at kbolig@bloomu.edu or by calling (570)-389-4608.

Future Careers Expo 2016

In Fall 2016, the Regional STEM Education Center

and the Colombia Montour Chamber of Commerce

hosted the second Future Careers Expo at

Bloomsburg University on November 10, 2016.

There was a great turn out of students and parents

from regional middle and high schools including

those in the STEM Magnet Program. Attendees

were able to meet and interact with 37 exhibitors

from regional industries, businesses, educational

institutions, and government.

The Regional STEM Education Center and Columbia

Montour Chamber of Commerce will again hold

another Future Careers Expo in November 2017.

Begin thinking about joining us next year by

reviewing a sample of exhibitors from our 2016 Expo

below:

OPTiMO Information Technology - Established in 2009, by Michael Miguelez ‘99, OPTIMO IT is a small

business administration, 8(a) certified, Hispanic-owned IT consulting firm that provides world-class mobile,

web and enterprise-level products and services. OPTiMO provides technology services to federal agencies,

commercial companies, and also offers a division of services in Legal Technology. OPTiMO IT has several

locations including: Bloomsburg, PA, Wilkes-Barre, PA and Manassas, VA. For more information, click on

the following link: http://www.optimo-it.com/

Geisinger Health System (GHS) – Geisinger Health System is an integrated health service organiza-

tion that is widely recognized for its innovative use of the electronic health record and the development of

innovative care delivery models, Proven Health Navigator and Proven Care. GHS is one of the nation’s

largest health delivery services organizations, serving more than 3 million residents throughout 45 counties.

The physician-led team is comprised of approximately 30,000 employees. GHS value kindness, excellence,

learning, and innovation as the foundation. For more information, click on the following link: http://

www.geisinger.org/

CSS Industries – CSS Industries is a consumer products company engaged in the design,

manufacture, and distribution of seasonal and all occasion social expression products. Some of their

products include: decorative ribbons, gift bags, decorations, stickers, journals, and infant or wedding

photo albums, CSS has several locations including their main office and management offices located in

Philadelphia, PA; Moosic, PA; Berwick, PA and Nashville, TN. For more information, click on the

following link: http://www.cssindustries.com/

Girton Manufacturing Co. Inc.- Established in 1927, Girton Manufacturing is a manufacturer of

custom stainless steel washing systems for Food and Dairy Processing, Pharmaceutical Production

and Laboratory Animal Care Equipment. Meeting the needs for those who are required to have washed

bins, drums, pallets, totes, glassware, crates, weighing systems, etc., Girton Manufacturing builds systems

that could help get it done. For more information, click on the following link: http://girton.com/

Winter Break Program 2017 During their junior year, STEM Magnet students attend the Winter

Break Program (WBP) while Bloomsburg University is between

semesters. WBP gives the students an opportunity to explore STEM-

related fields by doing hands-on activities, externships, trainings, and

meeting with professional mentors. Programming is tailored by track

in which the student is enrolled (Engineering/Technology or Health

Sciences) and offers challenges that pertain to their field of interest.

During the first week, STEM students worked on brainstorming ideas

for their group projects as well as meeting with nine professional

mentors from Kawneer, Larson Design Group, Autoneum

NorthAmerica, and Sekisui-SPI to discuss the projects.

In the second week, while also continuing work on their projects,

each track had individualized programming pertaining to their area.

Students in the Engineering/Technology track attended a

presentation by Mary Howe, Director of Zeigler Institution of Professional Development on

“Professionalism Soft Skills” that would prepare them for their two-day externships the following week.

The Health Sciences track had the opportunity to listening to Dr. Mindi Miller, Associate Professor of

Nursing, who talked about the “Healthcare Industry.” Also during the second week, students in the Health

Science track were trained and certified in First Aid and CPR. Photos on this page are from this training.

The Engineering/Technology track spent two days on externships during the final week at Autoneum

NorthAmerican, Sekisui-SPI, and Kawneer. During this time, students in the Health Sciences track met

again with the BU nursing faculty in the Health Assessment Lab where they learned to take blood

pressures and other vital signs. Both tracks wrapped up the week working on the final details of their

group project presentations and and then presenting to a panel of the professional mentors from the first

week on Friday. The presentation and project chosen as the best by the panel was invited then to go on

to compete in the regional PA Governor’s STEM Competition in Milton, PA..

WINTER BREAK

ICE MELTER (Oliva O., Forrest S., Brittany H., Karlie G., and McKenna S.) Placed on the front of a vehicle, this device would melt the snow or ice on the road for easier travel during bad weather. The Ice Melter could also be used on commercial and government vehicles to clear roads faster and more environmentally-friendly than current methods of salt and other chemicals.

MACCEE PILL DISPENSER (Margo K., Amber Z., Cassidy E., Cade D., Emily P., and Emily Z.) The MACCEE Pill Dispenser is cross between a gumball machine and a safety deposit box. Created to better monitor prescribed drugs, this device would only allow medicine to be dispensed at specific times and to specific individuals using fingerprint technology.

THE DEER INHIBITOR (Avani Y., Samantha H., Caleb S., Andrew T., Logan C.) The Deer Inhibitor has a duo purpose by sending deer away from highways and warning drivers of a deer’s presence. The device, placed on road sides next to the highways facing toward the forest, would both project a sound to scare deer away from the road and also a light to alert drivers to their pres-ence.

SLEEP SAVER APP (Garrett B., Fenton K., Hailee L., Emily W., Bryce S., Andrew L.) The Sleep Saver App is designed to automatically inform students of school closings or delays. Not only would it help inform quicker, rather then taking the time to look it up, the app could also automatically reset alarms for extra sleep time.

SHOT SLEEVE (Brie T., Autumn K., Joslin N., Faith T., Ashley L., Rachel S.) The Shot Sleeve is a distraction device use by nurses and doctors to make administrating shots easier and less traumatic for children. Included would be bright colored fabrics, stuff animals, and vibrating disks that would be turned into an armband.

THE CRB BLOCK (Gabrielle B., Margaret D., Skyla G., Rebecca S., and Lydia S.) A 5”x9”x5” block, the Coal Refuse Block was created from the recycling and repurposing of coal refuse. Using a steel mold, this product made from unused coal refuse would be cheap, stable, and environmentally friendly. Because of the low cost to make, the blocks could be used to build houses in low-income areas.

The CRB Block project was chosen from the Winter Break Program to compete in the regional PA Governor’s STEM Competition. The competition looks for ideas that will improve the quality of life for citizens of PA with the winning project going on to present at state level against approximately 170 teams from high schools around Pennsylvania.

The five students from the STEM Magnet Program had an excellent presentation at the competition. They not only did a good job representing the STEM Magnet Program, but also women engineers as the only all-female team. Unfortunately, they were not selected to continue on to the state competition, but we still congratulate Gabrielle, Skyla, Lydia, Rebecca, and Margaret on a job well-done!

GROUP PROJECTS

While only one group’s critical thinking project

from the Winter Break Program was chosen by the

panel to continue to the regional PA Governor’s

STEM Competition, all of the ideas were excellent

this year! Below is an overview of each group’s

inspiration to help improve the quality of life in

Pennsylvania.

PA GOVERNOR’S STEM COMPETITION