Hill Starbase Academy gives students STEM building blocks

  • Published
  • By Mary Lou Gorny
  • Hilltop Times
CLEARFIELD, Utah --  The Hill Starbase Academy celebrated the graduation of several students from South Clearfield Elementary School at a special assembly Nov. 30.

An F-16 pilot from the 388th Fighter Wing, Capt. Bryan Brandon, was the guest speaker for the ceremony. He talked to the students about the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, or STEM, as it is commonly called, in the day-to-day experiences he has as a pilot.

He showed a photo of an F-16 firing an MRAD (Medium Range Air Defense) missile. "This is only possible with STEM," Brandon told the students. "The F-16 was designed in the 1970s, and we are still flying it today. So you can see how important STEM is to the future of our nation."

With another slide showing an F-16 dropping bombs, Brandon explained to the students that without the use of science, technology, engineering and math it would not be possible to defend our nation.

He described an air refueling picture as comparable to an F-16 going into a gas station. "It makes it possible for it to keep airborne and refuel without having to go back and land," he added.

"STEM is everywhere in today's world. It's important in our everyday life in cooking, medicine and flying airplanes. STEM gives you the ability to solve complex problems that exist now and in the future," he said.

"We cannot overstate the importance of STEM as well as the ability to use it. STEM is an absolute necessity," Brandon said.

"So study hard, learn all you can about STEM and have fun," he concluded.

Frances "Mighty Mouse" Bradshaw, Starbase director, thanked everyone for coming, especially the parents and family members.

"Our goal is to expose students to the challenging concepts of math, technology, engineering and science," she said.

She said the students had worked on chemistry, physics, engineering, robotics and CAD programming projects during the 25 hours of instruction they received at the Hill Starbase Academy.

"At Starbase we have a goal that we are working to educate world-class engineers and scientists," Bradshaw said.

With hand's on projects they design a learning environment that makes it easier for students to see how STEM relates to the things around them and motivates them to be interested in taking math, science, engineering and technology classes as they progress into junior high and senior high school and then into further enrolling in college.

"They will then be able to help us and our nation to work," said Bradshaw.

There is currently a 41 school waiting list to attend Starbase from the Davis County School District.