Left to right, Rotarians Rich Perry and Chuck Borders, EVMS STEM teacher Kimberly Tucker and Principal Lee Conley.
The Rotary Club of Carson City is giving the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) program at Eagle Valley Middle School a boost. The club recently awarded teacher Kimberly Tucker a $4,000 grant to purchase additional robotics kits for the school’s sixth grade LEGO Robotics Class. More students than expected signed up for the class which means more equipment is needed.
“Every year the Rotary Club of Carson City awards a competitive education grant to a school, department, teacher or group of teachers to implement an innovative, classroom-based project,” said Rotary Club of Carson City President Richard Perry. “We are pleased to award this to Kimberly Tucker at Eagle Valley Middle School this year for purchase of robotics kits for her classroom.”
Tucker’s course introduces students to coding as well as engineering design processes. Students are given a problem or question, and use the engineering design process to come up with solutions, decide which solution is most plausible, build a prototype, test their prototype, and share their results with others.
“These skills are so important for students to learn. The engineering design processes and coding taught using these robots will build a great foundation whether the students later head to college or career training.” Perry said.
Tucker will give a presentation on the program at a Rotary Club of Carson City meeting in June. Each school year the Rotary Club of Carson City awards one grant of $4,000 to a school, department, teacher or group of teachers currently employed at a school within the Carson City School District, including Carson Montessori School.
