STEM careers not only for boys, Girl Scouts learn at GCC

Mirela Fetea, Ph.D., (right) answers questions from area Girl Scouts who participated in hands-on science workshops at Germanna Saturday.With her (background, l-r, are Trudy Witt, Ph.D. Prof. of Biology, GCC student Zilmara Montecinos Bonnet, Izabela Sikora, education technician wih the Tri-City Soil and Water Conservation Board, JoAnn Schrass, Ph. D., Biology professor.)

Fifty Girl Scouts from Fredericksburg and Stafford and Spotsylvania counties deconstructed electronic devices including computers, printers, smart phones and televisions and learned about physics and ecology during the first Girl Scout Science Day Saturday at Germanna Community College's Fredericksburg Campus in Spotsylvania.

Isabella Grasso of Girl Scout Troop 5214 takes part in a "Deconstruction" workshop during Girl Scout Science Day at Germanna Community College's Fredericksburg Area Campus in Spotsylvania Saturday. participated in hands-on science workshops led by Germanna Community College faculty at the Fredericksburg Area Campus on Saturday, (Photos by Robert A. Martin)

During a panel discussion about women in science, Dr. Mirela Fetea, who teaches physics at Germanna, told the Girl Scouts not to worry about stereotyping that implies girls aren't suited to STEM careers.

"Just pursue your dreams," Fetea told the Girl Scouts. "If you want to stay home and raise your children, that's ok. But there's nothing wrong with chasing your dreams, whatever they are. Even if you are told you cannot do it. Show people you can."
Dr. Trudy Witt, who teaches biology at GCC, told the Girl Scouts not to be concerned about being pigeon-holed as a "nerd."
"I always remind people that nerds make more money," she said with a grin.
"It was pretty fun," 12-year-old Evelyn Pailthorpe of Stafford Troop 3546 said of the day.
"We're really excited about having the opportunity to get elementary school-aged girls thinking about careers in science," Witt said.

Germanna Biology Prof. Trudy Witt with local scouts
during Girl Scout Science Day at GCC.

Deconstruction Night a smashing success

t was a dissection of sorts.
A big-screen TV, a vintage computer, a laptop, a microwave, cell phones, prrinters, scanners, radios, motors, pumps, electrical swtiches, relays and other devices and gadgets were autopsied.

Germanna Prof. Mirela Fetea with a young deconstructor.

Profs. Mirela Fetea and Davyda Hammond held the event Wednesday night at the Science & Engineering Building and Information Commons on the Fredericksburg Area Campus in Spotsylvania.

About 60 people age 3 – 70, in some cases entire families, participated.

"Activities like Deconstruction Night build communities of learners and camaraderie among faculty and students already in the program, their friends, families, and outside visitors of all ages eager to learn," Dr. Mirela said.
"We have a great group of dedicated and enthusiastic physics and engineering students at Germanna, excellent ambassadors to instill a deeper appreciation of what physics and engineering are all about, she said. "Many people think that science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, in particular physics and engineering, are challenging. They are. But they are also fun, exciting, practical, and extremely relevant to our lives."

Lead scientist and engineer at NSWC teaching engineering for Germanna

 By ELLIOTT FABRIZIO, NSWC Dahlgren Division Corporate Communications

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (NNS) -- "You ever notice how old men sit around and talk about how the sky is falling and two or three decades later, there's a new set of old men sitting around talking about how the sky is falling?"

  

 Dr. Walter Sessions (U.S. Navy photo by Elliott Fabrizio/Released)

Dr. Walter Sessions, a lead scientist and engineer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), moonlights as a professor for Germanna Community College where he educates the next generation of engineers and scientists to ensure his hypothetical question remains true.

"It's nationally known that we have a huge abyss coming when there will hardly be any scientists and engineers," said Sessions.

The desire to fill that abyss with passionate and talented science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) professionals led Sessions to the new electrical engineering program at Germanna.

In August 2013, he began teaching two fall semester classes - Electrical Circuits I and Introduction to Engineering.

As a lead scientist for NSWCDD's Electromagnetics and Sensors Department with an engineering doctorate, he may seem overqualified for entry level instruction, but Sessions says those with the most experience are precisely who should be teaching.

A CAN do performance by Germanna engineering students

Germanna's MeCANical Engineering team won the Engineering Ingenuity award this week during a contest sponsored by Stafford County Schools and 99.3 The Vibe. Ten teams collected thousands of cans of food for the Fredericksburg Food Bank, then built structures at Spotsylvania Towne Center. The Germanna Engineering students' American flag design was titled "Silver Linings." Now all the cans go to feed area families in need.

   Tyler Moore of the Germanna's MeCANical Engineers team
that won the Engineering Ingenuity award at a contest
at Spotsylvania Towne Centre.
                 

Germanna engineering students Tyler Moore and Brian Keefer accept award.

 Left to right, Germanna engineering students Sarah Kaufman,
         Ethan Flore, Philip Olson, Tyler Moore, Chris Coleman, 
     Leif WaldeBrian Keefer, Chris Boyce, Jordan Barringer
 and faculty advisor Davyda Hammond.

Sarah Kaufman, Tyler Moore, Philip Olson and Brian Keefer. 

                        

'Something almost magical' about GCC Center for Workforce & Community Education Video Game Maker class for grade schoolers

BY LIANA BAYNE

The Free Lance-Star

Something almost magical happened.

After about an hour of struggling, an army of Pac-Men suddenly raced across 14 computer screens. Their arrival was heralded by joyous shouts.

"It's going through my maze!" the budding software programmers exclaimed.

And just like that, 14 young brains had learned how to make magic in the form of a basic video game.

The 14 students, who ranged from first-graders to eighth-graders, were participating in the new Video Game Maker class at the Riverside Center of  Germanna Community College.

Their instructor, Ben Sherman, is a retired mechanical engineer who got bored and rejoined the workforce as a business and career coordinator for Germanna. He hopes the class will inspire his students to explore engineering, math or science.

"I love to have kids involved with things like this," he said. "We need more engineers and mathematicians."

The four-day camp met every day last week, Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. until noon each day. The students moved from learning what a pixel is toward more advanced game-creation functions. On the third day of camp, they learned about making maze-style games like Pac-Man.
Free Lance-Star story: 

Rising first- to sixth-graders are learning to design video games through Germanna's Center for Workforce & Community Education. The class, and Legos Engineering classes including Collision Cars, will be offered at the GCC Daniel Center in Culpeper in July and August. The classes are intended to stimulate interest in science, engineering, technology and math (STEM) at an early age
. 

Video Game Maker class information: http://www.germanna.edu/workforce/documents/video_gaming.pdf. Legos Engineering: Lego Engineering classes information: http://www.germanna.edu/workforce/documents/lego_engineering.pdf

Stop by the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 9 Open House at GCC's new Science & Engineering Building to learn about careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math

Reminder: There will be an Open House for students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 9 at Germanna's new Science & Engineering Building and Information Commons at the Fredericksburg Area Campus at 10000 Germanna Point Drive in Massaponax.

Hear GCC Faculty speak about STEM programs

Learn about transfer options and Guaranteed Admission Agreements

Tour the high-tech new Science & Engineering Building and Information Commons

If you're considering a career in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math, Germanna can help you prepare for careers in these growing fields. Join us for the first STEM-focused Open House! Hear from faculty from STEM areas, learn more about transfer options, and get a close look at the Science & Engineering Building and Information Commons.