Illinois Institute of Technology – A Leading Force for STEM

The Illinois Institute of Technology located in Chicago, IL has long been a leader in emerging technologies having been one of the first to design and develop the nose cone on the Saturn Rockets that help place a man on the moon, having helped developed the mechanics for advance weapons like the M16, and even the bionics for a real life like arm, the university has proven itself. Its STEM programs, (STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and usually refers to education in one or more of these disciplines) have and will address the concern that over the past several years of a decline in STEM education the United States. In the new global economy an education with a STEM focus is a vital step towards providing citizens with the needed skills and technological familiarity that will enable them to take part in the exciting economies of the future. This is also a fertile area where service-learning can flourish and help bring the broadest array of students as possible into the modern workforce. There is a concerted effort by our nation’s educators to encourage STEM studies that will enable students to actively engage in the knowledge-economy and to give many more youth from disadvantaged circumstances STEM service-learning opportunities. Educators are also seeking to promote STEM study by America’s students, especially those from underrepresented groups, including minority, women, and disadvantaged students. Successful STEM service-learning programs are those that seek out these communities and provide student participants with the opportunity to:

Use the knowledge and skills of one or more STEM discipline(s) to identify and address community problems;
Collaborate with peers and community members to set and achieve goals; and
Develop skills and attitudes useful for the workplace and for participating in civic affairs.

One such fine program is named after a local celebrity aviation company, BOEING SCHOLARS ACADEMY, which has sought out the best and brightest high school students in the Chicagoland area and immerses them in a year round program that provides, seminars, one on one tutorship, field trips to top corporations, exposure to leading executives, and more in way of developing the type of talent America needs for competing in the exciting industries of the 21st century. I for one am filled with pride, astonishment, and gratitude that such a program is available to Chicago students.