JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. -- The Tidewater Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association held their second Annual Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics day at the Virginia Air & Space Center in Hampton, Virginia, Nov. 3, 2018.
The event was held as a family-focused outreach opportunity for children and adults of all ages. The Air Force uses these types of events as part of a STEM recruiting effort. STEM.
“The event was a huge success” said Col. Cary Amburn, AFCEA Tidewater Chapter president. “Our focus has been to create opportunities for parents to engage with their children in an environment that promotes Science, Technology Engineering and Math – STEM.”
The chapter offsets much of the ticket cost with chapter funds to allow families to attend and spend the day exploring all the great National Aeronautics and Space Administration exhibits and interactive modules at the Virginia Air and Space Center. This is the second year the Chapter has partnered with the Center to host this event and there has been a marked interest in continuing next year.
The event also featured local community members and recent Science Fair winners who setup their displays to speak to the attendees.
“The beauty of an event such as this is that STEM education creates critical thinkers, it increases science literacy, and enables the next generation of innovators,” said Jennifer Lively, AFCEA Tidewater Chapter director of publicity. “Our chapter recognizes the value in STEM and fully supports all things relevant to the program.”
Airmen and civilian mentors from Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, who work in STEM career fields also attended the event to speak to children and their parents about aviation and robotics.
Additionally, the AFCEA Tidewater Chapter is already gearing up to host their next big STEM event. This organization continues to pay it forward by reaching out to several local schools and provides volunteers to assist middle and high-school teaching staff with after-school STEM programs and funding for secondary education students to participate in local events such as robotics competitions and more.
“We realize that as technology evolves and moves forward, it’s crucial to keep today’s youth involved by providing opportunities and environments that promote a positive frame of mind,” Lively said. “So many aspects of our society is based on STEM learning and without it, the world wouldn’t be where it is today.”
To see the contributions AFCEA Tidewater Chapter provides or to see when the next big event will take place, visit their website at: https://tidewater.afceachapters.org/ or follow them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/afcea.tidewater/