{"id":1824,"date":"2014-09-16T13:57:45","date_gmt":"2014-09-16T17:57:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/?p=1824"},"modified":"2022-04-15T15:35:05","modified_gmt":"2022-04-15T19:35:05","slug":"stem-academy-launches-at-essex-high-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/stem-academy-launches-at-essex-high-school\/","title":{"rendered":"STEM Academy launches at Essex High School"},"content":{"rendered":"

STEM\u00a0endorsement for students features personalized learning, community partners<\/h3>\n

\"STEM<\/a>Last week, Essex High School threw a community launch party to celebrate the start of their STEM Academy<\/a>‘s second year. But what does a STEM Academy look like on the inside? What does taking part in this program look like for students?<\/p>\n

We were on hand for the launch party, and have all the details on this ground-breaking program that combines personalized learning, digital portfolios and community partnerships.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"STEM<\/a>
Lea Ann Smith (right) welcomed a crowd of interested family and community members to Essex High School’s library last Thursday.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was standing-room-only in the library at Essex High School in Essex, Vermont, last Thursday, for the official STEM Academy launch party. Lea Ann Smith, Academy leader and co-coordinator of the Medicine strand, officiated as master-of-ceremonies as well as giving a brief presentation detailing the Academy’s goals and tenets.<\/p>\n

Students at the high school choose to participate in the three-year program which, upon successful completion, provide them with the opportunity to pursue the project of their choice in one of four disciplines: Medicine, Life Sciences, Engineering or Technology\/Math.<\/p>\n

Students enter the Academy as either sophomores or juniors,\u00a0and are immediately enrolled in an advisory program that, this year at least, will offer opportunities to build 3D-printed prosthetic hands, rockets, or arduino-powered electronics. During their junior year they complete an internship in the community, then wrap up their experience by designing and completing their own personal projects during their senior year. Successful completion of Academy training earns students not just an endorsement on their graduation diplomas, but also enticing entries in their digital portfolios and valuable connections within Vermont’s STEM community.<\/p>\n

Some of the projects to kick off this year include:<\/p>\n