BENTONVILLE — A new organization that aims to promote science, technology, engineering and math -- commonly known as STEM -- held its kickoff event Tuesday at NorthWest Arkansas Community College.
More than 300 educators, technologists, parents and students turned out for the event held by the Ozark STEM Foundation, which formed in January after several Walmart employees agreed it was a good idea.
At A Glance
Ozark STEM Online
More information about Ozark STEM can be found at:
Source: Staff Report
Ben Hasan, senior vice president of Walmart's information systems, has been chosen to serve as the foundation's board chairman.
"I'm really humbled and honored to participate in an organization like this because it can really make a difference in kids' lives," Hasan told the audience.
The foundation's mission is to foster high-quality science, technology, engineering and mathematics opportunities for all students from kindergarten through college. Founders want it to serve as a connection point and a resource pool in collaboration with other groups on projects meant to improve opportunities in Northwest Arkansas as well as McDonald County in Missouri.
Tuesday's event was meant not only to increase awareness of the nonprofit organization but also to raise some money for it.
That money will go toward holding workshops and other related events, among other things. The foundation also hopes to partner with the FIRST Robotics Competition to host a championship event in Northwest Arkansas.
"The more money, the more we can get done," said Jeff Charlson, foundation official. "We're going to build this thing little by little."
FIRST -- For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology -- formed in 1989 to inspire young people's interest and participation in science, technology, engineering and math career fields.
Among those attending Tuesday's event were several senior members of the Gearhogs, a team from Springdale High School. They were there with a robot they designed to toss a 24-inch exercise ball over a 10-foot goal. The team of 26 had to build the robot from scratch in six weeks.
"We're all trying to get into engineering and this gives us first-hand experience on what engineering is really like," said Kurtis Westphal, Gearhogs member.
Karenann Terrell, executive vice president and chief information officer for Walmart, was the keynote speaker Tuesday. She spoke about the gap the country has between the relatively small number of people graduating with science, technology, engineering and math degrees and the large number of related jobs available.
Everyone can play a role in reducing that gap, Terrell said.
"This thing starts to turn around one person at a time," she told the audience. "I don't mean to put this on your shoulders, but America's waiting."
She also encouraged the audience to "evangelize" about the importance of science, technology, engineering and math, even at the dinner table to their children, nieces and nephews.
Savana Butterfield, 11, a student from J.O. Kelly Middle School in Springdale, spoke to the audience about her experience with her school's Heavy Mettle robotics team. The experience impacts her learning every day, she said.
"I don't know where I or anybody else would be without STEM, and I don't want to know," Savana said.
Hasan encouraged the students in attendance to continue on their path toward a science, technology, engineering and math career and said he was "blown away" by the work they're doing.
"This is a dream worth chasing. This field is a field you can be involved in your whole life," he said.
The foundation board's next step is to meet and finalize goals, said J.P. Thompson, senior solutions architect in information technology at Walmart.
NW News on 04/16/2014