Middle School Students Attend STEM Expo
by John McDevitt
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Approximately 1000 Philadelphia middle school students attended STEM expo at The Temple Liacouras Center on Tuesday. The kids had the opportunity to learn more career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The expo is an opportunity for the students to meet representatives of businesses.
David Kipphut is the deputy chief of career and education for the School District of Philadelphia.
"We are trying to make sure our students understand what the occupations are and what the pathways are and that there are multiple pathways," said David Kipphut, the deputy chief of career and education for the School District of Philadelphia.
"You need to have strong math and science skills to succeed in our apprenticeship. If you don't come to us with strong skill, if they slacked off on math and science, the chances are they won't make it through our program," said Peter Klein, representing Steamfitters Local Union 420.
The National Association of Women In Construction or NAWIC was there as well.
"There's alot of opportunity for women in construction especially right now we are getting on a brink of a labor shortage and qualified workers participatory female workers are something that we are looking for as an industry," said Maura Hesdon, the General Manager of Shoemaker Construction in West Conshohocken.
She is behind a free week-long day camp for 7th to 12th grade girls. its called MAGIC (Mentoring A Girl in Construction) and takes place in the area June 27th to July 1st.
12-year-old Nya's curiosity was piqued.
"I never heard about the camp, but i'm interested in trying it out," she said.
Application deadline for MAGIC camp is June 1st.
For more information, you can go to the NAWIC's website website: www.nawicphl.org/magic
