More than 130 high school students from eight local high schools attended the event to learn about physics, entrepreneurship, robotics and more.
MEDIA, Pa. — The Brandywine LaunchBox held a Youth Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) and Startup Day for high school students on March 12. More than 130 high school students from eight local high schools (Chester Charter Scholars Academy in Chester, Furness High School in Philadelphia, Kennett High School in Kennett Square, The Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School in West Chester, Paul Robeson High School in Philadelphia, Springfield High School in Springfield, Upper Darby High School in Upper Darby and Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne) attended the event to learn about physics, entrepreneurship, robotics and more.
“It was great to see such a large turnout for our annual high school program for STEAM and Startup Day. The student engagement in workshops and the excitement on our campus was electrifying,” said Tony Mattei, director of entrepreneurship and digital marketing at Brandywine and coordinator at the event.
“Our startup workshop and keynote empowered our youth to create their own path to success. This program could not have been possible without the support of our campus!”
Mattei collaborated with six Brandywine faculty and CTDI, a full-service global engineering company, to facilitate activities and workshops for the event. Lecturer in Engineering Megann Hedgecock hosted a prototyping workshop, Assistant Teaching Professor of Physics Shruti Shrestha held a session exploring the speed of sound, Assistant Teaching Professor of Mathematics Apoorva Mate held a mathematics tiling workshop, Lecturer of Information Sciences and Technology Nannette D’Imperio held a workshop featuring coding with bolt robots, Science Lab Coordinator Tracy Lea-Dorsey hosted a biochemistry workshop and Associate Teaching Professor Samantha Pezzimenti hosted a workshop about the surface area of bubbles. CTDI presented an engineering workshop using Arduino code to activate a motor and LED to perform functions that included blinking the LEDs or pulsing the motor.
An engineer from CTDI helping students with their workshop.
In addition, startup workshop presenters included Eric Smith, co-founder and CEO of Launch Point Labs, and Philadelphia Freeway, founder of the Freedom Thinkers Academy. Smith, who hosted a workshop on empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs, said he enjoyed seeing the high school students excited about entrepreneurship.
“The next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders aren't waiting for permission — they’re taking aim at the world’s toughest challenges with bold ideas, relentless drive and a vision that refuses to accept the status quo,” Smith said.
“Launch Point Labs is proud to stand alongside Brandywine LaunchBox as they provide students with the resources, mentorship and support needed to turn their ambition into reality.”
Brandywine’s Youth STEAM and Startup Day was sponsored by the Meridian Fund and Halliday Properties Youth Programs Grant.
