Cadets and CLD Host 118 Middle School Students from 34 States

The Center for Leadership and Diversity (CLD) in STEM along with a cadre of cadets and several departments and directorates hosted 118 middle school students from 34 states and presented a series of STEM workshops. Instructors from the Department of Physical Education, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Kinesiology, Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics and Nuclear Engineering, and Mathematical Sciences volunteered their time and resources to lead captivating hands-on sessions for these students. Some activities included soldering a light sensing micro-bot, shooting pressurized cannons, and developing a virtual reality tank. Dr. Debbie Conn from the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) was also on site to introduce students to 3D pen technology and 3D printing. The students were organized into four platoons, each containing two squads, during their four days at West Point. Cadet platoon leaders and squad leaders took the role of mentor as they marched the students to workshops, ate meals, engaged in outdoor games such as the annual kickball tournament, and facilitated discussions on leadership and ethics in today's society.