STCC summer youth program builds confidence, offers hands-on learning

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – For two weeks in July, 13-year-old Anaiyah Sullivan got a taste of what it’s like to be a student at Springfield Technical Community College, which puts a focus on hands-on learning and individualized instruction.

Anaiyah was one of 12 students who participated in “STCC Builds,” which is funded through the U.S. Department of Education and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) grant. With over 25 percent of its student population identifying as Hispanic, STCC is a federally designated HSI which makes the college eligible for federal grants to support programs such as STCC Builds.

“This was a really good experience,” Anaiyah said on the last day, after presenting her project to her fellow students and their friends and family in the Amy H. Carberry Fine Arts Gallery. “I love doing STEM. I always thought about building things. I like problem solving. I want to go here for college.”

Anaiyah, of Enfield, Conn., said she was interested in architecture, one of STCC’s science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs. She might find a good fit with STCC’s Architecture and Building Technology program.

Like the other students in STCC Builds, Anaiyah learned how to use software, including Photoshop and InDesign. They applied their knowledge to create imaginative projects, said Stephanie Brown, director of the STEM Summer Program and STEM Center at STCC.

“They had no idea how to use these tools before coming to the program,” Brown said. “In addition to learning the Adobe programs, they learned how to draft to scale on a drawing board and make models to scale according to those drawings.”

Brown said the program's main focus is Architecture but it also relies heavily on Art and Design.

I love doing STEM. I always thought about building things. I like problem solving. I want to go here for college. Anaiyah Sullivan, Participant in "STCC Builds"

"Students learned to design using their imagination and sophisticated tools like Adobe Suite. “We gave them an image and they abstracted it into something else,” she said.

One student used a black-and-white photo of a room and imagined the window was a portal into New York City.  He made a sketch of his idea and then used Photoshop to create a colorful representation of his idea. He titled it “The Sloth Portal,” which included an underground cave system.

A second project for the students called for them to act as an architect and create a dream house for a “client.” They created a story for the client.

STCC will offer the same STCC Builds program to other students in August.

In addition, the college will host two other programs called “STCC Makes.” On July 25, students in STCC Makes will learn optics and photonics, which involves the application of lasers. In August, the college will offer another STCC Makes program that teaches airbrushing.

Because the programs are full, STCC is no longer accepting applications.

Brown said the first session, which ran from July 11-21, included 12 students between 9- and 17-years-old. Eighty-five percent were students of color.

Lara Sharp, dean of the School of STEM, said the programs offer young people hands-on experience in STEM activities. STCC strives to create opportunities for those who are underrepresented in STEM fields, including women and girls and people of color.

“We are thrilled to offer these summer programs at STCC. The staff in the STEM Center have done a wonderful job organizing STCC Builds and STCC Makes,” Sharp said. “We hope students get inspired and realize that STCC is a terrific option. We are the only technical community college in Massachusetts and offer many degree and certificate programs that cannot be found elsewhere in the region.”

Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.

About Springfield Technical Community College

STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequaled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812

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