High school students attend STEAM Day at CCCC

 Cloud County Community College’s Division of Science, Mathematics and Technical programs was host to its second annual STEAM Day for high school students on Saturday, Oct. 26 on the Concordia campus. This year’s STEAM Day theme, “Marvelous Metals,” coincided with National Chemistry Week.
Students who attended were able to hear from various instructors in the STEAM fields (Science, Technical Education, Agriculture, and Mathematics) about their research or interest areas that are being highlighted during their fall semester courses.
“The instructors we have here on campus really do have diverse and interesting backgrounds,” said Dr. Todd Leif, Science, Math and Technical Programs division dean. “Giving the outside community an opportunity to hear about and get excited about the ever-changing fields within STEAM is a part of our mission that sometimes takes the backseat to classroom instruction.”
Charles Henry, instructor in renewable energy, discussed magnetism and its link to the production of an electrical current in wind turbines. Josh Urban, instructor in biological sciences, explored the importance of metals in human anatomy and physiology.
Dennis Smith, instructor in physical science, spoke to attendees about minerals, and Mark Whisler, instructor in mathematics, talked about the types of careers students can have if they major in math.
Dr. Abu Gafar Hossion, instructor in chemistry, performed chemistry experiments with a penny, and Chelsea McCall, agronomy instructor, discussed metals required for plant growth, and the relationships of metals with soils.
At the end of the day’s sessions, five high school students were selected to receive a $750 STEAM Day scholarship, provided by the CCCC Foundation. Winners of the scholarships, to be used at Cloud County during their freshman year, were: Jordan Gilkenson, Concordia Jr.-Sr. High School; Taley Murdock, Concordia Jr.-Sr. High School; Helen Winters, Bennington High School; Dylan Bray, Concordia Jr.-Sr. High School; and Lexi Porras, Rock Hills High School.