Hello and happy March-

This month brings many things to celebrate: Women’s History Month, the vernal equinox (yes, despite the hailstorm taking place as I write this, Spring is coming!), and several Hub initiatives that are really picking up steam. I’m happy to report that our mission to elevate and enhance STEM and CTE opportunities for P-20 (that’s pre-k through post-secondary, by the way) is happening now in our region. We’re convening partners from all sectors to work as an ecosystem on everything from our early learning STEAM cohort for childcare providers and expanding computer science offerings across school districts to launching micro-job shadows for middle school students and exploring the watershed with rural STEAM educators in east Linn County. We’re invigorated to be collaborating with so many of you on these projects to move the needle for students. So, as you read this month’s newsletter, keep an eye out for programs of interest to you, your students, friends, or colleagues and be sure to reach out, spread the word, and connect. Thank you for being part of this ecosystem!

In honor of the changing of the seasons and Women’s History Month, a final word from one my STEAM heroes, Rachel Carson: “It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know of wonder and humility.”

Be well and wonderful,

Graphic: Read more about our Hub's ecosystem at www.midvalleystem.org/our-ecosystem/

What is Phlebotomy? Phlebotomy is when someone uses a needle to take blood from a vein, usually for laboratory testing.

Linn-Benton Community College offers a 15-week phlebotomy certification program. Join us as we step into the phlebotomy lab and see what a day in the life of a phlebotomy student looks like.

If you are a woman in STEM, or have a career in manufacturing or a skilled trade and would like to talk about your experience, contact Kacey Montgomery at montgok@linnbenton.edu.

We're back this month with OSU Ph.D. student, Jennifer Wong-Ala. Jennifer, who was born and raised in Hawai'i, is studying oceanography and putting in some serious time with social justice work on topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education. Listen in on March 14th to catch our talk with Jennifer. 

You can find these and all of our episodes of Closing the Gap on our website. 

HP will be awarding up to $25,000 in scholarships in 2022! For High School students, Scholarships can range from $1,000 to $3,000 dollars and for College Students from $5,000 to $10,000 dollars.

HP Community STEM Scholarship is a merit based competitive scholarship for underrepresented minority (URM) students pursuing a STEM degree. Students who meet the minimum criteria below are welcome to apply by March 25, 2022 application deadline.

Must be enrolled at an Oregon University or Community College for the 2022-2023 school year. Identify in one of the following groups: African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Latino, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. To apply, please submit the following application form and essay answers by the deadline to be considered for the scholarship. If you have any questions, please contact hpcrvscholarship@hp.com.

"As you all know, the last couple of years have been hard for so many people here at LBCC. In the last year, the Welding Department has lost three of our students: Richard Mann, Larry Henry and Zach Charley. 

Richard, Larry and Zach were wonderful students who loved being a part of the welding program, and we so enjoyed having them here with us. 

To honor their memory, we have created the Welding Comradery Scholarship. This scholarship will assist future welding students who are struggling financially, and ensure we have a tool to help them stay in school. 

We are currently seeking donations to help fund the scholarship in the hopes that we can grow it large enough to last for years to come.

If you'd like, you can donate using this link: https://lfforms.linnbenton.edu/Forms/wcs.

Or, you can help us immensely by sharing this video https://youtu.be/CQRjkbvErbE with friends and family, or on your social media platforms to help draw more donors. 

Richard, Larry and Zach touched so many lives in their short time with us. With the Welding Comradery Scholarship, their legacy will live on and give hope to future generations of welding students."

Oregon Science Olympiad is a growing local organization that is part of the national Science Olympiad program. They are currently seeking volunteers like you to help design challenges, score results, and greet students in a wide variety of exciting STEM events. They are hosting their annual tournament at the Lane Events Center, April 9, 2022, with additional online options.

For more information, please contact State Director, Ashley da Silva or visit their website.

Fully engage as a teacher and faculty member in the fulfillment of the college’s mission. This includes: teaching classes in the Education/Human Development and Family Sciences department; recruiting and advising students; serving on campus and departmental committees and task forces; and engaging in continued professional development. This position also serves as the Program Chair for the Early Childhood Education degree which includes fostering partnerships and placements with community organizations and employers; collaborating with statewide educational organizations; providing leadership both internally and in our service counties on quality early childhood education; developing and reviewing curriculum to promote student learning; and conducting program review.

See the complete job posting on LBCC's website.

Date: March 9 & March 15, 2022

Time: 3:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m PST, both days / Please make every effort to attend both sessions

Format & Length: online, interactive, 5 hours (with 2-3 hours of self paced work between sessions)

Audience: 3rd-5th grade educators, formal and nonformal; K-2 educators welcome as we will be discussing how the lessons can be adapted for multiple grades

Curriculum: Project Learning Tree’s (PLT) Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide.

Description: Make science a breeze with an outdoor-oriented environmental curriculum. The Project Learning Tree K-8 newly revised Explore Your Environment guide works for rural to urban teaching environments, and is for multiple grades. Join us as we check out Explore Your Environment (participants will receive a copy of it at no cost) and share ways that lessons can be adapted for different grades. Participants will be invited to implement a lesson between sessions.

Registration required.

Date: April 8, 2022

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., PST

Format: *In-person

Location: Corvallis, OR

Audience: 3rd - 6th grade educators, formal and non-formal

Curriculum: Project Learning Tree’s (PLT) Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide.

Description: Participants will explore how curriculum based on scientific understanding, such as Project Learning Tree’s K-8 Explore Your Environment, can be combined with Tribal History/Shared History (SB 13) lessons which were created by the nine federally recognized Tribes in Oregon for educators. All participants will receive a copy of Project Learning Tree’s (PLT) Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide.

Participants need to bring a lunch, water bottle and wear weather-appropriate layers.

Registration required.

Contribute observations of local weather and wildlife to help identify how our climate is changing and what to do about it. Spend 15 minutes observing your surroundings anywhere outdoors including in neighborhoods, parks, and refuges. Record your findings with

https://bit.ly/EcoSurveyForm. For more info on the crowdsourced observations and 500 Women Scientists Corvallis see https://linktr.ee/500WSCorvallis.

Common Fields (545 SW 3rd St, Corvallis) & livestreamed on Instagram

Raise a glass to terroir because wine from Oregon is a perfect example of how soil, climate, and other aspects produce distinctive characteristics in food from different places. In a presentation hosted by 500 Women Scientists Corvallis, learn how environmental factors contribute to wine terroir from Dr. Elizabeth Tomasino, a Sensory Analyst and core member of the Oregon Wine Research Institute at OSU. More information at https://linktr.ee/500WSCorvallis.

Our Educator’s Lending Library is full of great items to check out to bring some STEM learning into your classroom. We also have several great videos of suggested ways to use some of our unique STEM educational tools with your students. Check out our latest edition to the library: the Makedo classroom set. Makedo is a tool to help construct cardboard-based projects. Check out the video below to see our team's first (unsuccessful) attempt at creating a giant rhombicosidodecahedron, using the Makedo tools.

With Spring migration and Winter Wildlife Days here, now is the perfect time to check out our Outdoor Observation Kit (pictured left) and help your students discover the wonder of the outdoors!

Fill out the Educator Lending Library request form, and check out the rest of the MVSCH Lending Library Catalog. For more information, email Forrest Johnson.