HFA Partners with Stevens Institute of Technology to launch STEM-a-thon: A Day of Innovation for Hoboken’s 6th graders
On June 2, 2015 after a walk in the rain, about three hundred 6th graders in Hoboken gathered in the gym at the campus of Stevens Institute of Technology to save the world from Toxic Popcorn, build Tall Towers and launch Bottle Rockets. It was at STEM-a-thon: A Day of Innovation for Hoboken’s 6th graders. The Stevens Institute of Technology and Hoboken Family Alliance in collaboration with all 11 middle-schools in Hoboken, organized this unique, historic event for Hoboken.
“One of the key goals of this event is to engage and inspire Hoboken’s budding scientists and engineers in the fun and excitement of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics,” said Dr. Nariman Farvardin, president of Stevens Institute of Technology. “STEM is everywhere, in iPhones and video games, in medical advances and in innovations that make our City more secure and resilient in future storms like Hurricane Sandy. We hope that many of the students who attend the STEM-a-thon will consider pursuing STEM degrees and careers.”
“As one of the city’s leading not-for-profit organizations that strives to develop programs to unify our community, we are excited to partner with Stevens Institute of Technology to bring this program to all of our schools and engage students to solve fun STEM challenges in an academic setting” says HFA Director of Finance, Ms. Rachel Matthai. HFA sponsored and secured educational STEM field trips and workshops in the local area for each of the schools. The students were thrilled that some of these experiences included robotics, DNA analysis, disaster relief urban planning, and citywide simulation wireless networks.
Several Stevens Institute student volunteers were on hand to support and guide the 6th graders as they went about the various activities. After the fun and challenging day of STEM activity, each of the 6th graders were pleasantly surprised by the gift of a class party donated by local food businesses. The parties were donated by Basile’s Pizza, Ben and Jerry’s, Benny Tudino’s, City Bistro, Dozzino's, Margherita’s, Napoli’s, Panello’s, Rita’s Italian Ice, Slider Street and Uptown Pizzeria.
Mayor Dawn Zimmer, Assemblyman Carmelo Garcia and representatives of Stevens Institute of Technology and Hoboken Family Alliance addressed the students and congratulated them on their hard work and enthusiastic participation.
