Athens Drive has various ways the students could take initiative and create a positive impact. The STEM Academy at Athens Drive provides endless possibilities for students throughout their four-year journey in high school. This academy focuses on science, technology, engineering, and math, a different pathway than Athens’s primary focus on health science. This allows students to expand their opportunities beyond health science. However, students are only eligible to join before their freshman year starts.
The STEM Academy requires students to take STEM-focused classes such as advanced science and honors English classes. Freshmen are required to take biology and English 1 STEM. Sophomores are required to take chemistry and English 2 STEM. Juniors focus on their pathway in the STEM field; they are not required to take any classes specific to the STEM pathway. Seniors are required to take STEM Capstone: a class that is project-based and engineering is required. As students progress through their high school journey, this pathway allows them to take more rigorous courses, expanding their knowledge of science and language arts and expanding their knowledge of STEM-related fields.
The STEM academy offers a wide variety of opportunities, such as the STEM design night, in which students participate in hands-on activities, showcase their skills, and use background knowledge from those required courses to win prizes such as gift cards.
“It was a brainchild of last year’s junior class representatives; we did basic design engineering. This year we thought about doing more science,” said Lauren Doran, STEM program director.
The STEM design night also provides opportunities for STEM students to socialize as this night provides insight on potential partners for the upcoming project during the spring semester. This event highlights the academy’s dedication to cultivating and nourishing innovation and teamwork through various activities.
“Being in the STEM Academy has connected me with people who share my interests! It’s been a great way to learn and have fun in this field,” said Samara Tarek, a sophomore on the STEM board.
The STEM Academy also hosts guest lectures for STEM students to use real-world applications and build connections in those potential fields. These events are hosted throughout lunch and contribute to STEM points. These are points that allow Doran to see how involved the student was during the school year. These points are the most crucial due to students having to acquire at least 15 STEM points by the end of the school year. STEM students can participate in various activities to gain these points, such as lunch & learns in which guest speakers are invited to share their experiences working in the STEM field. Certain clubs that correlate with the STEM academy, such as the recycling club, FFA, cyber club, and many more.
Through this rigorous program, STEM students develop skills for real-life problems. The academy ensures students will graduate with background knowledge in STEM to excel in college and beyond as engineers, scientists, technologists, or leaders in other STEM-related fields. The academy here at Athens is in place to provide aid for students interested in the field.
“I enjoy the STEM academy because while it is challenging at times I feel like I’m being pushed to improve my skills constantly”, said Rylye Bigham.
