2000 Explore STEM at Battlefield High School

At the HayMaker STEM Expo, hosted by Battlefield High School FRC ILITE Robotics team 1885, families shared in the fun and learning of STEM with student-led and professional hands on activities. “This is an incredible opportunity for our whole team to share our love of STEM with the community” said Justine Suegay, Battlefield Robotics Co-President.

Robots and interactive science experiments were side-by-side with professionals from the community including representatives from Lockheed Martin, Techshop, Lafaro Labs Robotics and the Manassas National Battlefield Park. Representatives from several Virginia colleges and universities including George Mason University, Sweetbriar College, Virginia Commonwealth University and Northern Virginia Community College took advantage of the opportunity to meet future scientists and engineers among the many students who attended the event.

Sporting bright purple string bags sponsored by C2 Education in Gainesville, Virginia, families took home scientific treasures from self-made fossils to handmade paper. Families also enjoyed food from local vendors and food trucks such as Rito Loco and The Farm Effect.

The festival atmosphere was non-stop from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Demonstrations from Mountain View Elementary, J.W. Alvey Elementary, Haymarket Elementary and C.D. Hylton High School gave students the opportunity to showcase their scientific talents. Attending teachers and scout leaders from Prince William, Fauquier and Fairfax counties took the opportunity to learn new activities to enhance STEM learning in the classroom and in the community.

“The HayMaker STEM Expo is an exciting introduction for local students to science, engineering, math and technology,” said Professor Gail Drake, Team 1885 Coach. “It’s exhilarating to see the growing popularity of this event. Team 1885 is excited to encourage the curiousity of the next generation of scientists and engineers.”

The HayMaker STEM Expo is a student-led collaboration with local businesses, Battlefield High School and Prince William County Schools. The Expo is designed to increase awareness of science, robotics and sustainability while also encouraging students of all ages to explore the potential of science and engineering as future careers. The HayMaker STEM Expo was made possible with the support of Prince William County School Board member, Alyson Satterwhite, US STEM Foundation, Wanderstock Photography, AFCEA, C2 Education and Battlefield High School Principal, Amy Ethridge-Conti.