Capitol College’s STEM Leaders program concluded on Friday, April 27, in the John G. and Beverly A. Puente Library. At the culminating event, Dr. Michael Wood, president, spoke to students about their experience in the STEM program and congratulated them on completing the series.
Students from Capitol College and Prince George’s Community College who participated in four of the five events earned a certificate.
The series kicked off on Feb. 3, when Dr. Rachel Kilma from the Applied Physics Laboratory visited campus and discussed mineralogy on the surface of the moon and other interesting STEM career paths.
On Feb. 24, the event titled “STEM Project Management” welcomed former NASA astronaut and commander of the International Space Station Frank Culbertson Jr., as well as NASA scientist Dr. Dalia Bach Kirschbaum. Both speakers discussed their careers and how project management has played a vital role in their respective successes.
The next event, held on March 9, featured Capitol professor and doctoral candidate Jason Pittman, who detailed the emerging field of cybersecurity and some of the career possibilities for those pursuing a cybersecurity education. The “Professional and Career Workforce Development” event took place on March 30, and allowed students the opportunity to learn from and network with recruiting representatives from local and regional businesses.
The last workshop was held on April 13, and was titled “Virtual Reality.” Justin Brown from Northrop Grumman detailed innovative 3D technologically-based applications and virtual imaging for those in attendance. The workshop gave students a broader understanding of virtual technology and its many uses.
Capitol College has offered the STEM Leaders Program for the past two years. The program is a free, semester-long series that allows students to explore the possibilities of a career in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. Through the hands-on workshops, students connect with leaders and professionals in STEM industries and get a jump start on entering the workforce.
The program was funded in part by the Maryland Space Grant Consortium, and Capitol College appreciates the consortium's continued support.