If students learn best by doing, 120 eighth-graders from The Rice School gained valuable knowledge that may influence their future career choices. On Sept. 20, they experienced a hands-on day filled with competitive, educational activities promoting awareness of and interest in careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).

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Working in teams led by college students majoring in STEM fields, they built geodesic domes from soda straws that were tested for strength and faced other problem-solving challenges during the seventh-annual program sponsored by US Army Corps of Engineers – Galveston District and conducted by Great Minds in STEM.

“It helps them to understand that careers in science, technology, engineering, and math are out there and will be available to them in the future,”said Rice School Instructional Specialist Patrick LaPadula.

Students earned tickets by participating that were entered in a raffle to win educational and technological prizes. Among the big winners were two students who went home with tablet PCs.