For Immediate Release:
Contact: K.C. Brekken, CSN Public Affairs, 702-651-7535, kc.brekken@csn.edu
Mae Worthey, DETR, 702-486-7991, wmworthey@nvdetr.org
Message to students: STEM is Cool!
2nd Annual GEAR UP STEM Conference for Middle School Students at CSN
LAS VEGAS, Feb. 10, 2015 – The College of Southern Nevada and Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) are proud to invite elected officials, community leaders and members of the media to join us for the second annual GEAR UP Stem Conference for Middle School students on Feb. 20.
The conference offers a dynamic morning for 130 middle school students to learn about exciting careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields. The students will participate in hands-on lab sessions throughout the morning and then hear from a panel of STEM stars from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. about a variety of career opportunities. The panelists are members of the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board’s sector councils.
The 2014 Brookings Mountain West report, Cracking the Code on STEM: A People Strategy for Nevada’s Economy, recommends teaching Nevada’s youth more about STEM careers to cultivate the next generation of STEM workers. The conference will include students from Harney and Mack middle schools who are assigned to CSN through the grant-sponsored CSN Ambassador Program, which allows students to tour a college campus, hear about exciting careers in STEM fields and experience hands-on activities in robotics, web design, graphic design, coding, IT and more.
“We are pleased to partner with CSN on this important event for Nevada’s youth,” said Don Soderberg, DETR director. “One of our major priorities is preparing youth for the workforce by helping them learn about unique career opportunities. This event will provide valuable information to help these young people learn about careers they otherwise would not have been exposed to.”
What: Second Annual GEAR UP STEM Middle School Conference
Where: CSN Cheyenne Campus, located at 3200 N. Cheyenne Ave., North Las Vegas, in the Telecommunications Auditorium and classrooms
When: Feb. 20, 2015, beginning at 9 a.m.
Schedule:
Welcome: 9:30 a.m.in the Telecommunications Auditorium with CSN President Michael D. Richards
Sessions:
Geology Rocks- Science for Tweens
Dawn Reed: National Security Technologies, LLC & Contractor to the U.S. Department of Energy
Changing Attitudes about Math…One Student at a Time!
Dr. Jennifer Gorman, CSN Department of Mathematics
Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gigabyte
Dr. Naser Heravi, Software Program Director, CSN Department of Computing and Information Technology
Panel Discussion: 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in the June Whitley Lounge
Moderator: Dr. Warren Hioki, director, CSN School of Advanced & Applied Science
- Missy Young, Executive Vice President, Switch
- Joe Riney, Nevada Mining Association
- Anita Wood, Councilwoman City of North Las Vegas
- Christina Aldan, CEO of Luckygirl Designs, Co-Managing Director for Girls In Tech and founder of 222Evolve
- Heather Wilde: GOED Sector Council
Closing Remarks:
Jeanne Donadio, Career & Technical Education Director- CCSD
Earl McDowell, Deputy Administrator – DETR, Deputy Director -State of Nevada
Please contact K.C. Brekken from CSN’s Office of Public Affairs if you would like to attend the conference at 702-651-7535 or kc.brekken@csn.edu
About CSN:
Founded in 1971 and educating thousands of students a semester, the College of Southern Nevada (csn.edu) is the state’s largest and most ethnically diverse higher education institution. CSN has achieved federal designation as a Minority Serving Institution and Hispanic Serving Institution. Students create flexible, personalized schedules, including day, evening, and weekend classes taught on three main campuses and multiple locations throughout Southern Nevada. CSN — your future starts here.
About DETR
DETR is comprised of the Employment Security Division, Equal Rights Commission, Rehabilitation Division, and the Research and Analysis Bureau. DETR works in partnership with the Nevada JobConnect System to provide training and job placement services to job seekers and to assist employers in hiring practices. It also supports economic development efforts through improving Nevada’s workforce.
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