Youth Outreach In Science Technology Engineering And Mathema

THANKS TO THE FUNDING WE RECEIVED FROM DONORS WE WERE ABLE TO TRAVEL AND PARTICIPATE IN THREE ROBOTICS COMPETITIONS ACROSS THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, AT NO COST TO OUR STUDENTS' FAMILIES. OUR TEAMS COMPETED IN HENDERSONVILLE TN IN DECEMBER, BRENTWOOD, TN IN JANUARY, AND PORTLAND, TN IN FEBRUARY. TRANSPORTATION, HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS, MEALS AND FEES FOR THE ROBOTICS COMPETITIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH FUNDING RECEIVED. TWO OF OUR TEAMS WON AWARDS, THE THINK AWARD FOR THEIR EFFECTIVE PROGRAMMING SKILLS OF THEIR ROBOT AND THE SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD FOR DEMONSTRATING RESPECT AND GREAT ENTHUSIASM AT THE EVENT. PARENTS HAVE REPORTED AN INCREASE IN ENGINEERING INTEREST IN THEIR CHILDREN SINCE PARTICIPATING IN OUR ROBOTICS PROGRAM. YO-STEM PREPARES STUDENTS FOR TOMORROW'S WORKFORCE BY ADHERING TO ITS MISSION OF: -FOSTERING THE DEVELOPMENT OF 21ST CENTURY SKILLS THROUGH STEM EDUCATION. -PROVIDING PROGRAMS THAT COVER A WIDE RANGE OF STEM TOPICS. -MENTORING STUDENTS ON THE PATH FOR THE PURSUIT OF STEM CAREERS. -EXPOSURE TO LOCAL STEM BUSINESSES THAT USE AI, SUPERCOMPUTERS, LARGE SCALE 3-D PRINTING AND OTHER TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT. -ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION IN HIGH LEVEL STEM PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES. -CREATING AVENUES FOR INDUSTRIAL COLLABORATION IN CONTRIBUTING TO STEM INITIATIVES. -GIVING STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH AND GAIN INSIGHT FROM CURRENT STEM PROFESSIONALS. IN DOING THIS, OUR STUDENTS' PROFESSIONAL CAREER PATHS AND PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS ARE POSITIVELY IMPACTED THROUGH INCREASING SELF-CONFIDENCE, MAKING GENUINE CONNECTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP SKILLS. OUR GOAL IS TO FACILITATE A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE SO THAT OUR STUDENTS WILL THRIVE IN THE MARKETPLACE, BUILD WEALTH, AND POSITIVELY IMPACT SOCIETY. WITH THE HELP OF 33 VOLUNTEERS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BRING IMPACTFUL STEM PROGRAMMING AND ACTIVITIES VOLUNTEERS TO OVER 200 STUDENTS VIA OUR AFTER- SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, AT NO COST TO THE STUDENTS FISCAL YEAR 2023. 74% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE CULTURAL MINORITIES, AND 51% ARE GIRLS. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT DIVERSE TEAMS ARE MORE INNOVATIVE THAN HOMOGENOUS TEAMS.