UMO hosts 5th Annual STEM on the Green

MOUNT OLIVE — “I’ve never had a better field trip than this one!” a third-grader from North Duplin Elementary School said about the STEM on the Green held Friday, Oct. 14 at the University of Mount Olive. It was an opinion that was echoed by many of his classmates.

Students attending North Duplin Elementary, Warsaw Elementary, Carver Elementary, Carver Heights Elementary, Brogden Elementary and Grantham Elementary were in attendance and enjoyed a lunch provided by Pizza Village.   

More than 650 third graders from six local schools visited UMO to participate in the Annual STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) on the Green event. Students participated in 37 different educational booths spanning a wide range of topics from drone flying to fire safety and everything in between. Each of these activities was linked directly to a concept from the third-grade curriculum, so the fun-filled day was more than just entertaining.

UMO’s wide variety of programs was well represented at the event with 150 students, staff and faculty from the university’s various programs helping to make the day a success. Sophomore Callie Thornton enjoyed working at the event. “Getting to work with the kids, especially the ones from my old elementary school, is a really cool experience,” she said.

The third graders were not the only ones who had a great time engaging with STEM lessons and activities. Teachers from all six schools praised the event and were pleased with the relevance of the material as it related to their curriculum. One teacher from Brogden Elementary School thought that the day was a great experience. “I have never seen my kids so engaged in the material before,” the teacher said.

Each teacher in attendance was provided with a take-home packet including online resources and a media gallery recapping the activities of the day.

Toward the end of the day, a third grader from Warsaw Elementary said, “I wish I could come back here every day!”

There was no doubt after hearing from the visiting students, UMO faculty, students, staff and demonstrating volunteers, that the 5th annual STEM on the Green was another tremendous success!

— From University of Mount Olive Public Relations