Gadsden State camp aims to spark students' interest in high-tech fields

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Students who are well-versed in science, technology, engineering and mathematics will be better prepared for the jobs of tomorrow.
That's the concept behind Gadsden State Community College's STEM and Career Camp, held June 16-18 at the Advanced Manufacturing and Workforce Skills Training Center on the East Broad campus.
Middle school students engaged in a wide array of hands-on learning experiences during the camp, according to a GSCC news release.
'This camp is a perfect example of how Gadsden State is investing in the next generation,' said Andy Robertson, dean of workforce development at GSCC, in the news release.
'We're showing students that college and high-demand careers are within reach. Events like this help spark curiosity and confidence in students at a critical age,' he said. 'They leave here realizing that careers in engineering, health care, and technology are not only possible — they're exciting.'
The free camp was led by environmental engineer Jerome McQueen, who emphasized the importance of early exposure to career pathways and skill-building opportunities.
'I developed my own initiative — I call it AcaSTEMics. And I really mean STEM-based academics, because I know from my own background it is very important that we get our kids involved in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics as early as we can,' said McQueen who earned a master's degree in engineering as a NASA Graduate Fellow studying air pollution control at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Cleveland.
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'I like to harp on the fun part and put on the hard part later," McQueen said. "When they have seen how much fun STEM can be in the beginning, when the hard stuff comes along, they will have this guiding light of where they want to go.'
McQueen said it's never too early for students to think about their future.
'I also express the importance of learning what we can right now so they can eventually fund their livelihood and create great things for their future,' he said.
GSCC fully funded the camp, which was organized in collaboration with Gadsden City Schools and other local partners.
One interested observer at the camp was Alan Smith, interim president at Gadsden State.
'Gadsden State is proud to lead initiatives that support youth, education and workforce development in our region. This camp brought all those priorities together in an exciting and meaningful way through hands-on STEM experiences,' Smith said.
'It's part of our mission to meet students where they are and inspire them to see what their future could look like in high-demand STEM fields," he added. "This kind of outreach lays the groundwork for long-term success in our communities.'
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Gadsden State camp helps students build high-demand skills