WSU Everett engages with K-12 students at Future of Flight STEM night

EVERETT, Wash. – Feb. 12, 2016 – Energetic K-12 students got a hands-on learning opportunity in science, technology, engineering and math on Feb. 2. WSU North Puget Sound at Everett engineering faculty and students engaged with the community a STEM Family Night at the Future of Flight in Mukilteo.

More than 1,000 community members, at least 70 percent of whom were K-12 students, engaged with exhibitors promoting STEM education and careers.

“Students got to learn about and play with projects our WSU students have been working on, as well as a few we created specifically for working with K-12 students in the community,” said Pam Loughlin, the WSU North Puget Sound at Everett engineering academic coordinator. “It’s incredible to see students’ eyes light up when they see a machine at work, but then even more when they learn how to build and control that machine.”

“It was a great event again! Our engineering programs were well represented,” WSU North Puget Sound at Everett mechanical engineering faculty member Dr. Xiaopeng Bi said. “The attendees showed great interest in our projects.”

WSU North Puget Sound at Everett offers baccalaureate degrees in mechanical and electrical engineering, with software engineering coming fall 2016. Students can fulfill general education requirements by taking their first two years of courses at any community college, and then finish their degree by enrolling at WSU in Everett for their junior and senior years.

WSU North Puget Sound at Everett’s mission is to bring industry-aligned programs to the region to prepare students to compete in a global economy. Local businesses, large and small, rely on an economic infrastructure of industrial, commercial and professional services. Those businesses need a talented, well-trained workforce to thrive and expand.