Around the Country in 30 Days: Updates from the Executive Director on STEM Events

There is no shortage of focus on Workforce Education around the country and within the NSF ATE community. Not only have we been busy here in Florida attending and presenting at the ET Forum, the grand opening of the Manufacturing Alliance of Hillsborough County, regional scholarship golf tournaments and meetings hosted by Regional Manufacturers Associations, SkillsUSA Florida (see article) and the Florida Engineering Education Conference, but we have been busy across the country. Take a walk through my April out-of-state events where I found some best practices to bring home to Florida and shared many of our own best practices with others.

MODEX EXPO 4/7-8 Atlanta
FLATE visited MODEX, referred to as “"the Greatest Supply Chain Show on Earth" held at the 

Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. MODEX Student Days is hosted by several well-known supply chain, material movement associations and their foundations to expose students to the careers and opportunities in this growing field that is increasingly using more mechatronics systems like we have already seen growing in manufacturing and production companies. After one day in the massive exhibit hall and listening to speakers, the students toured several nearby facilities to see implementations first-hand. 

Educators were bused to tour of the Norfolk Southern Training Center on the outskirts of the Atlanta metro area. The training center was amazing in size and scope. Training programs (apprentice like) for various railroad technical employees takes place at the facility from engineers, conductors, mechanics, and more. All office personnel and administrators also learn how to put the giant train engines together and make minor repairs. It was a fascinating experience as we learned a lot about running a railroad, the job opportunities, and training programs, as well as the company’s philosophy and investment in its future workforce.

AACC PANEL 4/11 CHICAGO
Early in April, FLATE partners participated in a panel discussion at the American Association of

Community Colleges (AACC) in Chicago, IL. The conference is “the go-to place” for college administrators and educators at all levels involved in all aspects of community colleges, including workforce education. Dr. Barger, FLATE Executive Director and P.I was joined by Dr. Nancee Sorenson, President of the HCC Brandon Campus (host of FLATE Center), Terry Iverson, President of Iverson & Company, FLATE’s National Visiting Committee (NVC) chairperson and Dr. Celeste Carter, Program Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education program.

The Panel “NSF Support for Community Colleges - Community College Leaders Address the Benefits and Challenges of Leading STEM Technician Efforts” focused on some tough questions on: the value to colleges for hosting national and regional efforts when their missions are more local; funding high cost technical programs; engaging students in high-technology technician career pathways, and building and sustaining partnership with industry.

AMTEC and CARCAM NVC meetings 4/13-15 Hammond, IN; Lincoln, AL
AACC was followed by participation in two National Visiting Committee meeting. The AMTEC NVC meeting was hosted by the Center for Innovation through Visualization and Simulation (CIVS) at Purdue Northwest. CIVS is developing a training simulation for AMTEC that aligns to their automotive manufacturing curriculum modules and equipment. We got to explore the many worlds of virtual and augmented reality and its uses for education and training as well as research. 

Just a day later during the CARCAM NVC, we toured the new Honda Engine plant in Lincoln, AL. This amazing place is filled wall to wall with nearly 100 robots building and assembling Honda engines. The bright, clean and new facility is now producing all the engines for the vehicles produced there in Lincoln, AL. Along with the review meeting at both NVC’s these visits with partners help tell the stories of the NSF ATE Centers in ways words cannot. I wish I could share a photo of the Honda Engine Plant.

NWFMC member meeting 4/20 Pensacola
FLATE presented an overview of FLATE center activities and project at the Northwest Florida 

Manufacturing Council (NWFMC) member meeting on April 20 at Pensacola State College. Also presenting at this meeting were FLATE education and outreach partners: Leo Reddy, Chairman and CEO of MSSC, Kevin Carr, President of FloridaMakes, and Ted Norman, State Supervisor for Engineering & Technology Education. Over fifty attendees also heard from the Japanese Consulate, regional updates of educational activities and met students in the new manufacturing high school programs. The highlight of the meeting was the tour of Pensacola State College’s machining labs where the high school students were introduced to the amazing capabilities of multi-axis CNC machines, by Mike Cannon, Machining instructor at Pensacola State.

CCTA Webinar 4/28 “Highlights of Resources of NSF ATE Manufacturing Centers”
On April 28, as the host/organizer of a CCTA (Collaborative Centers for Technical Assistance) webinar, FLATE assembled six manufacturing focused ATE regional and support centers to participate in this lightning round presentation about our leading resources. It was fun to collaborate on this fast-paced, and well-received webinar. You can access the slide deck and recording on the ATE Centers website and at http://www.atecenters.org/webinar-archives-2016/

Manufacturing Summit 3.0 at Virginia Western Community College 4/29 Roanoke
I closed the month with the Mechatronics program at VWCC, participating in a career coach

workshop and their growing annual Manufacturing Summit 3.0. This annual event is the brainstorm of Dan Horine, mechatronics faculty at VWCC and P.I. of an NSF ATE grant to grow that program by building strong connections with industry and the regional high schools. Approximately 75 attendees heard updates about the VWCC program, engaged in shared discussions and toured both the mechatronics lab and program’s new FabLab that are used to engage students before, during and after they technical degrees. Find out more about this state-of-the-art program at http://www.virginiawestern.edu/academics/stem/programs/mset.php.

A busy Spring has heralded another challenging and fun summer for us at FLATE. I invite you to read the rest the May edition of the FLATE Focus which highlights additional stories about events that are coming up later this summer. Our summer camp season is already upon us. For those of you in the Tampa Bay area and in Florida who have middle and high school students in your family, sign them up for one of our camps! April was also that time of the year when the Manufacturing Institute recognizes women in STEM across the country. Skim through this year's list of awardees in Florida and stay tuned for follow-up stories on these amazing women who continue to make their mark in STEM education and training. We also have several updates from SkillsUSA Conference, the STEM professional event at Middleton High School in Tampa and a summary of insightful recommendations from Leo Reddy, Chairman and CEO of the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council, for Florida manufacturers.

We also want to extend warm congratulations to all the engineering technology graduates across Florida. As you step our into the world, may you twirl up to the stars on the wings of success. This and many more stories in this edition of the FLATE Focus. Send us your thoughts and comments via email (news@fl-ate.org), or connect with us socially on Facebook, Linkedin, or Tweet us @Made_InFlorida using the hastag of the month #ETGrads. 

Robotics Camp Season is Here! Sign up Now for a Summer of STEMultimate Challenges

Summer is almost here, and it’s the perfect time to enroll into one of FLATE’s robotics camps.

The five day camps are a fun and challenging way to learn about Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and its applications through hands-on activities. The Camps will be held at Hillsborough Community College in Brandon. Cost for the intro and intermediate camp is $175 per week; cost for the high school engineering and technology camp is $200 a week. This year’s schedule and list of camp offerings include:

June 20-24: Introductory EV3 Robotics Camp for Middle School GIRLS ONLY!
June 27-July 1: Introductory EV3 Robotics Camp for ALL Middle School students
July 11-15: Intermediate EV3 Robotics Camp for ALL Middle School students
July 25-29: Engineering Technology Camp for High School Students

Scholarships are available for Girl campers with preference given to girls enrolled in the All Girls camp. The Suncoast Credit Union Foundation is once again partnering with FLATE to

provide scholarships for girls from low-income families to attend the All Girls camp. To qualify for the scholarship as well as apply for any of the camps throughout this summer, please fill out the registration forms that are currently posted on the FLATE Camps page. Thanks to a grant from Hillsborough County, scholarships are also available for students interested in enrolling in the high school camp. Students from low income families, and/or those participating in a free and reduced lunch program are eligible to apply for the high school camp scholarship. More information on the high school camps, applications and scholarship are posted online on the FLATE Camps website. Thanks also to the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers for contributing $500 to FLATE robotics camps.

In addition to the robotics camp in Tampa, FLATE is hosting camps at St. Petersburg College in St. Petersburg, FL, and at Marion Technical Institute in Ocala. Contact Daley Toney at Bruce.Toney@marion.k12.fl.us for more information. The Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) is hosting camps at Pensacola and Ocala, and the Peterson Academy in Jacksonville is also hosting robotics camps modeled after the FLATE robotics camps.  

Don't forget to check out FLATE's NEW Robotics Camp Curriculum and Camp Best Practice guide. This year FLATE has formalized its curriculum for its summer introductory and intermediate camps. Visit the FLATE Wiki to download this incredible and free resource. For more information on FLATE’s 2016 Robotics and High School Technology camps visit www.fl-ate.org/projects/camps.html, and www.madeinflorida.org. You can also contact Dr. Marilyn Barger at barger@fl-ate.org, and/or Janice Mukhia (news@fl-ate.org), FLATE Communications Manager with questions about the camp/registration. 

Middleton High School in Tampa Leverages Business Partnerships to Streamline STEM Programs

Middleton High School is a pre-collegiate STEM Academy, and is one of nine schools in the

nation to be STEM certified by AdvancED, the “largest community of education professionals in the world.” Middleton was also conferred the “Prime School” distinction by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers for its “ability to be a leading educational institution in the areas of advanced manufacturing and STEM Education.” Most recently the school was one of two Hillsborough County Public Schools to receive the Magnet School of Excellence Award from the Magnet Schools of America. Indeed, Middleton has an array of accolades under its belt, the immediate impact and benefit can be reaped by its students.

Success, firstly of its student body, and secondly as an institution wasn’t an overnight phenomenon. Middleton prides its success on a multi-tiered strategy, one that has enabled the school to establish a revered reputation as a STEM academy in Florida. A core part of Middleton’s success also lies in its outreach and engagement with the community, more specifically business and educational leaders who have worked cohesively with the School to formulate programs and curriculum that is geared towards success of its students.

The STEM Professional Association is a prime example of how Middleton High School has

leveraged its business connections to streamline STEM programs. It is an annual event that brings Middleton’s business partners and stakeholders from across Tampa bay to share/discuss the breadth and scope of Middleton’s STEM programs, and how it can be modeled to match the current needs of its stakeholders. LeShea Serrano, Assistant Vice Principal for Magnet Curriculum at Middleton states the event is a “culmination and meeting of all our stakeholders with whom we’re reaching out and building crosswalks between industry, our programs and most importantly our students.” Indeed partnerships play a central role whereby many, like Dr. Marilyn Barger, Executive Director of FLATE are members of the School’s Advisory Board, who have helped spearhead potential opportunities for students, and helped Middleton’s programs remain cutting edge and relevant.

Organizations invited to the most recent STEM Professional Event included a diverse group of

businesses and associations involved in STEM, including FLATE and Hillsborough Community College’s Engineering Technology program. The Event which has been in its 6th year was attended by approximately 100 people this year, and according to Serrano has culminated in mentorship and internships for Middleton High School Students. “Administratively we couldn’t be more proud of our students and teachers” noted Serrano, who said the parents were equally in awe of what the students were doing and learning at school.

There were many takeaways for hosts and attendees alike from the event. For school administrators and STEM educators it provided a platform to showcase some of their hallmark

programs like the electrathon racing and the robotics program, what students are learning through these projects and/or in the classroom, and how they are acquiring hands-on engineering skills that they can use once they enter the workforce. Other takeaways from the event included the possibilities for new partnerships, or strengthening existing ties like the one Middleton shares with FLATE and Hillsborough Community College. In addition to FLATE facilitating student tours to the engineering technology lab, manufacturing day tours, guitar building workshops, “I would love to explore partnerships opportunities with FLATE and chart out a path to build a sustainable partnership whereby students can access FLATE resources to augment their STEM career and educational aspirations” said Serrano. On a bigger scale, the event validated the need for STEM careers and also reinforced “the importance of the curricula provided at Middleton as a pre-collegiate STEM Academy.”

For more information on Middleton’s STEM programs visit http://middleton.mysdhc.org/, or contact LeShea Serrano, Assistant Vice Principal at LeShea.Serrano@sdhc.k12.fl.us. For information on FLATE’s curriculum for middle and high school students visit www.madeinflorida.org.

Leo Reddy Chairman of MSSC Provides Recommendations for Florida Manufacturers

Asked for guidance on how Florida manufacturers could secure a durable future pipeline of

CPT-credentialed job applicants, Leo Reddy, Chairman and CEO of the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council provided a summary of his meetings to FLATE and several regional Florida Manufacturing Associations. These included: Mid-Florida Manufacturers Association, South Florida Manufacturers Association, Bay Area Manufacturers Association, and Northwest Florida Manufacturers Association. Reddy shared that this “opportunity and warm reception helps explain why Florida now ranks second among the forty-nine states in which MSSC offers its training and credentialing services.”

• Most Florida manufacturers are concerned over their ability to secure a reliable pipeline of higher skilled, strongly motivated production workers to deal with higher turnover rates and the growing number of retirees.
• Most see the value of MSSC-certified job applicants as a recruitment screening tool.
• Most would offer a paid summer internship program for students who pass at least one or two of the four CPT Modules (Safety; Quality & Measurement; Manufacturing Processes & Production; and Maintenance Awareness).
• Some are using CPT also as a basic training and benchmarking tool for incumbent workers.

In addition to providing the insights outlined above, Reddy also addressed FLATE’s National Visiting Committee members and educators at the Florida Engineering Technology Forum. As a leading organization promoting technician training and education in Florida, FLATE has been invited to present to the MSSC Executive Briefing on June 16 in Atlanta, GA, to present Florida’s MSSC strategy. The briefing is a free event that seeks to engage industry and education policy decision-makers in the Southeast. Other Florida organizations that will be attending the Briefing include Tallahassee Community College which will be sharing information about its prison training program. MSSC looks forward to deepening its productive collaboration with the impressive group of Florida Regional Manufacturing Associations who are doing so much to keep manufacturing in the forefront of the state's economic growth and development. 

Click to Enlarge Image

FLATE has embedded the MSSC Skills Standards into the Engineering Technology A.S./A.A.S technical core. The ET Core consists of 18 credit hours and covers the following 6 areas: CADD, Electronics, Measurements, Processes, Quality, Safety. Once completing these courses. students in the ET Degree program can earn an 18 credit hour college certificate. They will also be prepared to take the MSSC skills tests, so can earn the national certification as well. Additionally, FLATE crafted the statewide articulation agreement that provides articulation of 15 credits of the ET Core (Electronics, Measurements, and Processes, Quality, and Safety) to the A.S./A.A.S. Engineering Technology Degree anywhere in the state. For more information visit http://fl-ate.org/programs/mssc-skills, or contact Dr. Marilyn Barger at barger@fl-ate.org.

Answer to sTEm–at-Work Puzzle #52: Process Pressure Disturbance

The Puzzle: https://flate-mif.blogspot.com/2016/04/stemat-work-puzzle-52-process-pressure.html

Analysis

The concepts associated with process control are important for technicians that work with high tech processes.  When equipment is replaced or repaired it has to be "tuned" to respond to unexpected variations (disturbances) that change the operating conditions.  For technicians this also means adjusting the control system to accommodate replaced or repaired equipment.  Although the "tuning" process is usually a set of simple operations, the skills involved in recognizing that the new settings are correct require a STEM  knowledge base.  A primary principle is the expectation that the equipment will return the process variable (temperature for example) to the value it had before the disturbance occurred.  Fortunately, today's technicians will be able to see the results of their efforts on a laptop or other small display.  For this puzzle the only task was to select which of the 3 possible setting options would accomplish that task.  Clearly, the tech would not pick option 3.  Next month's puzzle will explore this situation further and the lessons that students can learn about evaluating this data. 

Question

The technician selected the setting that provided the graphic

 response shown as graph number 3. YES or NO

Answer: NO                    

School District of Hillsborough County Partners with Million Women Mentors to Boost Students’ Engagement in STEM

Million Women Mentors (MWM) is a national program targeted to increase the participation and

success of female students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, or what is commonly referred to as STEM. The Program’s overarching mission is geared towards college and career readiness in STEM fields for female students, and boost the interest and confidence of girls and young women to succeed in STEM programs and careers through recruitment and engagement of (male and female) STEM mentors, and community-wide participation and engagement of corporations, nonprofits, associations, government entities and higher education institutes. In Florida, the MWM initiative has gained widespread support and participation. MWM Florida chapter seeks to position Florida as one of the leading states through creation of a robust program for recruitment of mentors who will make a difference in young girls’ lives inspiring them to pursue careers STEM.

Joleen Clark, Florida Chapter President for MWM, states the initiative is an offshoot of the

National Million Women Mentors movement and its goals and missions correspond and reflect to the national effort. As the Chair of the Steering Committee, Clark is vested with the responsibility to determine strategies for successful implementation of the program in Florida that are designed to engage and recruit mentees in school districts across the state. Clark also provides oversight over the evaluation and assessment of current strategies.

The Florida Steering Committee, which is part of a network of steering committees in 30 states, was established in Spring 2015 with the official kick-off of the mentoring program in August 2015. The initiative has laid out ambitious goals to recruit 5,000 mentors over four years to mentor girls and young women in STEM programs and careers. It also seeks to establish a new program engaging middle and high school age girls in a mentoring relationship that will be aligned with the school year to provide continued support and reinforcement for success, and hopes to increase the percentage of Florida middle/high school girls planning to pursue STEM careers by 2019.

Since launching the program last summer, MWM has been working with schools and 5th to

12th grade students. Locally Hillsborough County Public Schools has committed a minimum of 50 sites, each to be served by at least one mentor who will regularly meet with five female students, grades 5 to 12, throughout the 2015-2016 school year. Principals, or their designee at each school will be responsible for communicating with the mentor, parents and students, while providing space for the mentorship to occur outside the classroom. Mentors will also participate in various activities, lessons, and outreach projects that showcase the applications of STEM in real-life settings to students.

The underwater robot project was one of the outreach activities designed to spark students’

interest in STEM. Earlier this year, 20 girls from Hillsborough County Public Schools participated in the Underwater Robot Camp for girls which was supported by the Florida Aquarium, Museum of Science and Industry, and National Geographic Learning. Using the underwater robot (ROV), students explored the Tampa Coast while learning the basics in electronics, soldering, acrylic construction to build their ROVs, test it in a “micro expedition,” and sharing their discoveries on a digital field journal. During the activity, students also got the chance to discuss what it is like to work in these settings with a young woman who was a real-life submarine pilot and engineer.

MWM Florida has tremendous scope for strengthening its outreach to students across Florida.

As the program gathers momentum, it hopes to expand and work with young adult women as well. Looking to the future MWM also hopes to reach out and partner with organizations like FLATE with its committed programs that are targeted to recruiting girls in STEM. MWM also hopes to explore developmental opportunities in preparatory classes that will capture students’ interest at an early state and prepare them for STEM careers of the future.

For more information on the Florida Chapter of the Million Women Mentors Network contact

MWM Florida Chair, Joleen Clark at joleen.clark@sigma-hc.com. For information on FLATE’s Women in STEM based initiatives contact Executive Director of FLATE, Dr. Marilyn Barger at barger@fl-ate.org, or visit www.madeinflorida.org and www.fl-ate.org.

STEP Ahead Awardees from Florida Make a Mark in American Manufacturing

If you are a manufacturer, it is an exciting time to be engaged in American manufacturing

right now. Even as manufacturing and manufacturing processes have been eclipsed by changes, and global competition has stepped up from all quarters, manufacturing across America is evolving with women increasingly playing an integral role in meeting the demands for a skilled workforce. Now more than ever manufacturers here in Florida and across the nation are turning to women for their talent, technical know-how, and leadership qualities—key skills required to compete in a global marketplace.

Given the prominent role women play in making a mark in American manufacturing, the Manufacturing Institute recently announced and named 130 women as the 2016 STEP Ahead Awardees. On a national spectrum, this year’s Awardees represent women from more than 100 companies across the country who have “accomplished success within their companies, and have proven to be leaders in the industry as a whole.” Out of the 130 honorees, nine women from six Florida based companies received the STEP Ahead Award this year.

A big Congratulations from FLATE and the Florida manufacturing community to the 2016 STEP Awardees and companies outlined below:

The Manufacturing Institute launched the STEP Ahead initiative in 2012 to celebrate women in manufacturing that are making a difference through advocacy, mentorship, engagement, promotion and leadership. The STEP Ahead Awardees are part of a network of women ambassadors who serve as leading examples of women in manufacturing. They are considered among the “best and brightest women” who have pledged to lay the pathway to help women successfully pursue careers in manufacturing and promote diversity in the workplace. The STEP Ahead Awards ceremony was held in April at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC.

For more information and to learn about the 2016 STEP Ahead Honorees and Emerging Leaders visit the Manufacturing Institute’s Women in Manufacturing STEP Ahead program page. For FLATE’s STEM-based programs for women and girls contact Executive Director of FLATE, Dr. Marilyn Barger at barger@fl-ate.org, or read our Best Practice guide for “Recruiting & Retaining Girls in STEM.” Stay tuned for a follow-up story in the next edition(s) of the FLATE Focus.

Mark You Calendar for 2016 Summer Professional Development Opportunities

FLATE is hosting an array of workshops, webinars and STEM-focused camps this summer for educators to enhance and add to their professional development toolkit. The events kick start later this month. A full listing of events listed below and details are posted on the FLATE Wiki and on www.fl-ate.org.

FLATE-FACTE Summer Institute for Robotics
Join the FLATE team this summer for the 2016 Advanced Manufacturing Summer Institute for

ROBOTICS, June 13-15 at Hillsborough Community College in Brandon. This 2.5 day workshop for middle and high school teachers includes: Hands-on sessions with a variety of robots; Robots in industry (including tours); Using robots in STEM classrooms; Lunch with robots and manufacturers. Travel reimbursement is available for eligible teachers (>50 miles from HCC). Online registrations close on April 29. Selected applicants will be notified by May 10. To register visit http://fl-ate.org/event/summer-institute-for-engineering-technology/#sthash.56lnWInq.dpuf, or contact Dr. Marilyn Barger at barger@fl-ate.org.

Florida Energy Teachers’ Network (FETN) Workshop
The FETN Workshop will be held June 14-15 in Alachua, FL. Middle and high school teachers,

and Career and Technical Center teachers will receive travel reimbursement and a $150 stipend for attending the meeting. Additionally, Florida Energy Workforce Consortium will offer a $250 stipend for the first 10 STEM teachers to register and attend the Workshop. To register email Lindsay Silveus at fewc.exec@gmail.com, or visit http://fewc.org/newwordpress/energy-teachers.

Working Connections South
Working Connections IT Faculty Development Institute, June 20-24 at Florida State College at Jacksonville-downtown campus. This five-day training workshop offers several tracks that cover a range of the most in-demand topics in IT. For more information visit http://workingconnectionssouth.mobilectc.wikispaces.net

FLATE 7th Annual Teacher Camp: Alternative Energy, It’s HOT!
The FLATE Annual Teacher Camp will be held June 24-26 at Hillsborough Community College in

Brandon. The highly acclaimed, three-day camp/workshop is designed to help educators fill their toolbox with classroom-ready STEM curriculum and resources. The camp will include a tour to TECO as well as HCC’s LEED-certified Southshore campus for a “green tour.” Teachers will participate in energy-themed, hands-on activities using Florida Solar Energy Center’s energy kits. To register for the camp visit http://fl-ate.org/event/summer-camp-for-teachers-alternative-energy-its-hot

LEGO® MINDSTORMS® EV3 Teacher Robotics Workshop
This hands-on training workshops will cover introductory topics in robotics. The intro session

will be held on July 6; the intermediate session on July 7. Both sessions will be held at HCC-Brandon from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. This two-day workshop will cover topics on: LEGO® EV3 microprocessor; Building Robots Instructions; Programming the EV3 software, EV3 sensors and logic, and a session on programming the NAO robot. Spots are limited; send in your applications by June 20. For information and registration information contact Nina Stokes, FLATE project manager at stokes@fl-ate.org, or visit http://fl-ate.org/event/flate-facte-summer-institute-for-robotics/#sthash.sUI5C3Dt.dpuf

FLATE-FAITE Preconference Workshop and FLATE Awards at FACTE Conference
FLATE and FAITE (Florida Association for Industrial & Technical Educators) will be hosting

“Tech Tours” as part of preconference workshops at the 2016 FACTE Conference. The preconference industrial and technical tours will be held July 25, and includes tours to Disney Industrial Complex, Lockheed Martin, and a launch site simulation. Cost for the Tech tours which include lunch is $25. To register for the FLATE-FAITE preconference workshop visit http://www.facte.org.

Additionally, FLATE Awards will be presented during the FACTE Conference at Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa in Orlando, FL. The Awards brings recognition to both secondary and post-secondary educators as well as recognizes key personnel for outstanding contributions to promote technology education and career awareness in support of manufacturing. To submit a nomination visit http://fl-ate.org/programs/flate-awards, and http://www.facte.org/conference---events.html

Updates from SkillsUSA State Leadership & Skills Conference

Spring has sprung into action with a full line-up of regional and statewide STEM competitions.

FLATE values these competitions and takes an active role in participating and promoting these events, as it not only engages and excites students about careers in STEM, but helps develop technical skills and leadership qualities that prepare students for advanced technology careers once they graduate from high school. At the Florida SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference, held at Lakeland in April, FLATE sponsored various competitions for students and sessions for educators and team advisors.

The three day event drew attendees from across Florida who participated in various STEM based competitions with statewide teams. FLATE has actively been engaged with SkillsUSA

Florida, and this year sponsored the Advisors’ Luncheon which had over 85 attendees, as well as gift bags and gift certificates for the mechatronics competition winners. The Advisors’ Luncheon, which was also sponsored by FLATE, was a hotspot to showcase and share information about FLATE’s educational resources with Conference attendees. The luncheon featured a motivational presentation centered on a Star Wars theme. Using “The Force in You” theme, by Diane Culpepper, Executive Director of Lake Technical College, focused her presentation on the importance of educators, their role in mentoring students, and the value in networking/joining professional organizations. Building on what Culpepper articulated, FLATE, FAITE and FL DOE had the opportunity to present each organization to Conference attendees and showcase how organizations in Florida collaborate with one another to promote STEM/technical education. 

SkillsUSA is a national organization that “represents a partnership of teachers, school and

industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce.” It prepares students for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations, including health occupations. For more information about the Florida Chapter of SkillsUSA and upcoming events visit http://www.skillsusafl.org. For information on STEM competitions and how to get involved in statewide Career & Technical student organization visit http://fl-ate.org/programs/student-organizations/, or contact Dr. Marilyn Barger at barger@fl-ate.org.