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TODAY'S STUDENTS
TOMORROW'S EMPLOYEES
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Lunch with an Engineer
This year's Twin-Counties Lunch with an Engineer was a success! STEP hosted Lunch with an Engineer at Edgecombe Community College in Tarboro
with appoximately 30 students from Edgecombe Early College High School and engineers from Edwards Inc., Hitachi Astemo, Cummins RMEP, LS Cable & Systems, and Pfizer met over pizza.
Both students and engineers shared meaningful conversations and asked important questions regarding engineering careers. Students reflected on their time at the Lunch with an Engineer event through a brief interview. Edgecombe Early College Sophomore, Dani Ponce, shares her enriching experience. “Lunch with an Engineer was a great experience that provided students with a clearer view of different local engineering careers they might want to pursue. I had a great time learning directly from local engineers!”
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In it's second year, this event was a collaboration between ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital, UNC Health Nash Hospital, Area L-AHEC and the Edgecombe Community College Health Sciences Department. More than three hundred high school students from Edgecombe and Nash counties, with an interest in pursuing a career in healthcare, gained exposure to the wide selection of medical professions here in the Twin-Counties. As students toured the training labs and interactive patient simulations, hospital professionals shared real workplace experiences, answered questions, and encouraged students to pursue their goal of truly attaining a career in healthcare. On hand were professionals representing each of the eleven departments, ranging from EMS, Phlebotomy, Health Information, Radiology to Surgical Technology.
Noelle Hall, Radiology Manager at ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital said “For me, the best part of this is reaching students who may not realize that there is more to healthcare than nurses and doctors. Encouraging students to go into healthcare is so important to me,”
Andrea Brown, Health Sciences Teacher at Nash Central High school shared that “I am so glad that we had the opportunity to connect with and hear the stories of medical professionals from our community. Thanks, and kudos to the entire team for such a wonderful experience!”
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Brick City Engineer Challenge | |
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The Twin-Counties Brick City Engineer Challenge took place on March 22, 2024, at the Rocky Mount Event Center with hundreds of elementary school students from Nash and Edgecombe counties. Scholars participated in various hands-on STEM challenges that encouraged innovation and teamwork, real-world skills needed in the workplace. Students showcased their building, coding, and robotics skills through these activities. The engineer challenge was sponsored by Pfizer.
Coach from Bailey Elementary School, Natalie Shearin says "This has been a learning experience for us both, the coaches and the students. As the coaches, we have facilitated their learning and as students, they have really learned to collaborate and work with each other and lean on each other for support. They had an awesome time preparing for the competition. So far they are working very well together and seem to be having lots of fun."
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Kevin Roberts
Work-Based Learning Liaison
S.T.E.P. is excited to announce the addition of Kevin Roberts as the new Work-Based Learning Liaison. In this new role, Kevin will use his education experience to serve and build connections in the Twin-Counties.
The role of Work-Based Learning Liaison focuses on creating or expanding relationships between education institutions, business and industry, and economic development in the Twin-Counties region to promote work-based learning opportunities. Kevin will act as a connector between employers and education.
Kevin shares his excitement as the new Work-Based Learning Liaison, stating, “I'm looking forward to my work with S.T.E.P. as a Work-Based Learning Liaison and connecting classrooms to careers. I'm excited to continue building relationships within the Twin-Counties and expand on the great opportunities for our students, educational partners, and employers through job shadowing, internships, and apprenticeships.”
Before joining the S.T.E.P. team, Kevin has served in the North Carolina education system for 30 years. He has served 20 years as a 5th-grade math and science teacher and 10 as a Digital Teaching and Learning Specialist. He received his undergraduate degree from Marshall University and his Master's degree from West Virginia University with a major in education.
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In the STEM Design Challenge students in grades 6-8 are challenged to build a motorized object using K'Nex, a versatile, creative construction product and code a Cue Robot while practicing problem solving skills and working as a team . Consulting engineers from local companies engage with the teams prior to competition and share important work-based skills/concepts.
The Twin-Counties S.T.E.M. Design Challenge took place on April 12, 2024, at the Rocky Mount Event Center. Edwards Middle School placed first, North East Carolina Prep School placed second, and South Edgecombe Middle School placed third.
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Invention Convention is a manufacturing competition featuring Maker Space technology to identify a problem and produce an original product that will help the community. The teams also develop and make marketing/business plans to entice investors. Consulting engineers from local companies engage with the teams prior to competition sharing manufacturing concepts and project management skills.
Invention Convention took place on April 19, 2024 at the ECC Tarboro Campus. Southern Nash Middle School placed first, Red Oak Middle School placed second and South Edgecombe Middle School placed third.
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Sponsored and coordinated by STEP, Employer in the Foyer is a recruitment event held at each high school in the final weeks of the school year.
Employers offer immediate employment opportunities to graduating seniors planning to go directly into the workforce after graduation, as well as, part time summer employment. This event also gives exposure to other high school students about the local companies, careers and benefits that offer them to stay in the Twin-Counties.
Over 1300 students participated in this year's event!!!
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PO Box 6802
100 Coastline Street, Suite 203
Rocky Mount, NC 27802
Phone: 252-446-0113
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