What’s Right With Our Schools: HCCA S.T.E.M Camp
Through the Perkins grant, dozens of female students learned about the automotive and engineering industry. Male students learned more about female dominated industries, such as nursing.
Principal Sabrina Phelps says the program shows students no matter their gender, they can be productive and advance in any field.
“Primarily the goal is to make students aware of those fields, not that they don’t really know about it, but know what it entails,” says Phelps.
HCCA Automotive Instructor Jimmy Jones teaches his students about the basics in car repair and maintenance.
“Twelve percent of my population during the year of students are female,” says Jones.
He adds some of the females in his class aspire to work in the automotive industry, and for those who have other plans, he just hopes they learn simple life lessons.
“I’m hoping that if they’re ever an emergency situation, they can remember how to change a tire, or at least deal with it be safe doing it.”
Alexis Parker wants to become a cosmetologist, but she decided to participate in the automotive class to add onto the skills she picked up from her father, like changing oil and checking tire pressure.
“My brother, he thinks because he’s a boy that he’s stronger than me,” Parker says, “But personally…I’m stronger than him.”
Former student Heather Cox serves as Jones’ assistant during the camp session.
” [I like to] take like stuff apart and put it together and figure out why it works.”
A group of young men learn from experts in the nursing industry.
“I don’t really see myself doing anything besides the medical field,” says student Matthew Amerson.
“It hopefully will be used as a recruitment tool also for the students who…will come back and register for those classes,” says Phelps.
First-time camper Maddison Walls used power tools during the engineering class.
“It’s a fun experience.”
She offers a little advice.
“…They [students] should always try something different and new even if they don’t think they would like it, because they might end up liking it.”
It’s what’s right with our schools.
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