MILTON — The Central Susquehanna Ecosystem recently announced that students Alejandro Bugarini, Gabriel Corrales, Raelynn Graff, Olivia Kelley, Brady Mason, Savannah Nixon, Zen Rigas, Oliver Ridinger, Blake Rothermel and Xander Tallent will represent the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit 16 announced that he had been selected. He serves the region as a Chief Science Officer (CSO) through his statewide STEM initiative in PA, the Chief Science Officer Program.
This internationally recognized program is designed for students in grades 6 through 12 and fosters leadership and innovation in science. The Central Susquehanna EcosySTEM cohort is comprised of her 10 students selected by the district for their exceptional dedication to science and leadership potential.
The CSOs attended a two-day Leadership Training Institute (LTI) as part of their CSO journey. The event brought together students and their advisors from Line Mountain Area School District (Heather Keefer and Cam Trau), Milton Area School District (Natalie Myers Easton), and St. Joseph’s School (Kurt Eck). I did.
During LTI, these students actively participated in a variety of leadership activities that promoted teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills. They also took personality tests and gained valuable insight into their leadership styles and how to work effectively with others.
On the first day of LTI, students were introduced to the core concepts of the CSO program and the importance of becoming STEM ambassadors within the district. They had the privilege of honing their public speaking skills, engaging in leadership activities, learning from Science in Motion educator Brandon Brown, gaining valuable insight into their DNA, and learning more about their specific phenotypes. and were able to construct beaded necklaces/bracelet that hold their unique phenotype. Extracted DNA. After lunch, all participants embarked on a campus tour of Commonwealth University Bloomsburg led by university student guide Makayla Miller, providing a glimpse into the world of higher education and scientific exploration.
The next day, students created CSO accounts, delved into program requirements, and prepared for future work with the district. Before lunch, all attendees had the privilege of learning from four community STEM experts: John Zaktansky and Doug Fessler (Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper), Sam Shea (PMF Industries, Inc.), and Brian Houser (PPL Electric Utilities). , I was able to learn the following: Gain valuable insight into their educational and professional background. We then partnered with STEM experts to design as a team and participate in the Marble Run Challenge.
In the afternoon, students were amazed by a visit from the Pennsylvania Dinosaur Piper, which was imagined, designed and built by Mackenzie Wortman, founder and owner of Pennsylvania Dinosaur Company LLC. She told how her tribe of 15 lifelike animatronic dinosaurs came to life, with realistic features such as moving and blinking eyes, six different roars, and sharp teeth. .