AHOSKIE, NC –STEM East Consultant Wesley Beddard presented a $5,000 check to Roanoke-Chowan Community College (R-CCC) officials on July 9. The college was one of nine colleges to apply for and receive grant funds from STEM EAST Network. Funds were used to host a Summer STEM Outreach Camp for rising high school freshmen during the week of June 17.

“We want colleges to do these types of STEM activities, but there are only so many buckets of money to do that. We asked what we could do to help expose students to STEM careers and the colleges replied that they are stretched for funding,” explained Beddard. 

According to the STEM East Network website, time, resources and funding are “dedicated to alignment of innovative STEM education programs with relevant Eastern North Carolina careers.” As part of that mission, STEM East’s focus is on training students for careers that pay well so they can live and work in the area.

“It’s really about giving the colleges some resources,” Beddard said. “Most colleges are doing something but it’s on a shoestring budget.” STEM East plans to continue grant funding next year to assist colleges with this programming.

During this year’s R-CCC STEM outreach camp, students had the opportunity to explore topics in science and technology. Nearly 30 rising high school freshmen participated in the camp.

"The earlier our students have a connection and interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related disciplines, the earlier they can start making informed decisions on career and educational opportunities they may not have even known existed,” said R-CCC President Dr. Murray J. Williams.

“We hosted an engaging camp that allowed students to be challenged academically and aligned with having fun while learning. Students created webpages, modeled real-world germ transmission and created chemical compounds in the time they spent here on campus. The STEM East outreach grant has allowed us to provide additional opportunities for our students and we look forward to the continued partnership," added Williams. 

For more information about R-CCC programs, visit roanokechowan.edu or call 252-862-1200.

 

Roanoke-Chowan Community College’s Mission
Roanoke-Chowan Community College, a member of the North Carolina Community College System and located in Hertford County, is a public, two-year institution of higher education offering associate degrees, diplomas, certificates, college and career readiness, and customized business and industry training in a variety of delivery modes promoting public service, transfer, and workforce development for a diverse student body, leading them to contribute to the vitality of an increasingly global community. www.roanokechowan.edu #DiscoverRCCC “Where community and careers connect”

Media Contact: Melanie Temple, Director of Marketing & Recruitment/PIO, metemple7181@roanokechowan.edu, 252-862-1243