BECKLEY — During the 31st annual Health Sciences and Technology Academy camp this week on the WVU Tech campus in Beckley, high school sophomores got a first-hand look at science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEM+M) activities.
Students from an eight-county area joined Golden Bear faculty, staff and volunteers for the HSTA camp — a week-long program held on college campuses throughout the state and geared toward preparing students for STEM+M careers.
The week’s sessions included one in the Carter Hall Auditorium on Friday in which students teamed up to build cardboard furniture. According to Dr. Nathan Galinsky, WVU Tech assistant professor of chemical engineering, students were asked to construct something they could sit on, such as a couch or a chair, out of cardboard. Counselors provided the specifications and were to judge them at the end of the activity, Galinsky said.
Overall, nearly 60 students and eight faculty members took part in the program. Students hailed from Kanawha, Fayette, Logan, Mingo, McDowell, Mercer, Raleigh and Greenbrier counties.
“This is a great opportunity to give these students an early grasp on in-demand careers before they actually have to decide on a major in college,” Galinsky said in a press release. “They can see what goes into the jobs they might want, what kind of education they need, and how much fun these fields can be while they still have some time to think about their future.”
Throughout the week, Galinsky and a team of WVU Tech’s faculty, staff and volunteers guided students through STEM+M activities to expand their understanding of future possibilities. Immersive experiences in learning tracks such as forensics, coding and engineering were geared to help students build skill sets they can use to prepare for college, according to Tech officials. In the evenings, HSTA campers got a taste of the college experience by living in WVU Tech’s residence halls and having meals in the Bears Den Dining Hall.
Campers were also involved in several outdoor events throughout the week, such as visiting the Bechtel Summit Reserve site and Glade Springs, according to Galinsky.
HSTA is implemented through West Virginia University Health Sciences and is a nationally-recognized program that connects middle and high school students with mentors and academic resources, fostering success in STEM+M undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
“We are proud supporters of this program,” Galinsky said. “My colleagues and I want to help shape the minds of students who are going to be making big contributions to our professions in the coming years.
“It is really exciting.”