Statler College STEMzone to take K-12 outreach efforts to a new level

Statler College faculty and staff were encouraged to bring their children to the grand opening of the STEMzone on Friday, Jan. 17. (WVU Photo/Paige Nesbit)

A new creative, collaborative space to cover growing needs in K-12 STEM education and outreach has opened in the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources at West Virginia University.

By Olivia Miller
Communications Specialist

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Located in room G19 of the Engineering Sciences Building, the STEMzone is the first of its kind on the WVU campus.

“In the past, we did not have a specific location where we could host uninterrupted K-12 outreach events,” said Cate Schlobohm, outreach coordinator in the Statler College. “With the STEMzone being opened, we can now host groups of up to 35 people in a space where we can focus, have uninterrupted learning and work in teams.”

The center will bring more K-12 traffic through the doors of the College to showcase what engineering is, as well as allowing elementary, middle and high school students to have hands-on experience with the engineering design process.

“We hope this space will allow us to grow our outreach initiatives, relationships with teachers and schools, industry and the community,” Schlobohm said.

The STEMzone is a bright, visually-stimulating space where students have access to items such as hand tools, 3D printers, Legos, STEM kits and more.

“Having a dedicated space to conduct K-12 events and visits is going to allow us to take our outreach offerings to a new level,” Schlobohm said. “We hope this space becomes a place where creative problem solvers want to work and learn new things.”

The space will also be utilized by student organizations to host seminar speakers and meetings in a fun, creative, non-classroom setting.

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