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Boeing Invites Hazelwood Third Graders to Engineering Conference
Global aviation giant, The Boeing Company, recently invited students in the Hazelwood School District to join other local students to attend an Engineering Conference Tuesday, Feb. 24.
The students from HSD were third-graders.
Stephanie Knight’s third grade class was one of a select few elementary classes in the St. Louis area invited to attend the conference. Knight is a teacher at Cold Water Elementary in the Hazelwood School District.
“Our third graders are the first ever elementary class to be invited to this conference as a result of the District’s implementation of Project Lead the Way at the elementary level,” Knight explained. “We have some of the first students in the state to launch the PLTW at the elementary level.”
“This conference was another way for our students interested in learning about the STEM disciplines to get hands-on experience,” said Dr. Grayling Tobias, Hazelwood School District superintendent. “I want to thank Boeing for providing our students the opportunity to learn more about these fields of study, use what they learn at the conference in their classes, and maybe even consider a STEM field for their careers.”
Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a national initiative that provides K-12 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs, and teacher professional development. The Hazelwood School District recently introduced the elementary school component, PLTW Launch. Geared to kindergarten through fifth grade, PLTW Launch encourages students to become problem solvers by using structured approaches, like the engineering design process, and employ critical thinking.
Cold Water is one of seven schools from the St. Louis area to take part in the conference. The conference introduced students to Boeing’s K-12 STEM program as part of the national observation of Engineers Week, Feb. 23-27.
“Boeing has taken a very deliberate and intentional step forward to support the students in our region by offering hands-on learning experiences and mentoring in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). We know these students represent our future and we want to complement their classroom learning with some real-world application,” said Matt Daniels, manger, Education Relations, Boeing Defense, Space and Security. “The Engineering Conference is one of many ways we engage with students to help them develop the 21st century skills needed to succeed in academics and life, and to achieve what they dream.”
Boeing engineers showcased different types of careers including robotics, fighter jet pilot and life support crew flight simulators, rockets and Boeing’s Immersive Development Center. Additionally, Randell Gelzer, director, State and Local, Boeing Defense, Space and Security, presented an official Engineering Week Proclamation signed by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon to the HSD students and staff.
