PEPCO, DISCOVERY EDUCATION AND BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS KICKOFF STEM CLUB
--More than 100 Students to Perform Rube Goldberg Energy Experiment--
January 23, 2015
Washington, D.C. - Tonight, Pepco, Discovery Education and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington (BGCGW) kickoff the Pepco STEM Club at The ARC Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus, located at 1901 Mississippi Ave., S.E. The Pepco STEM Club exposes and prepares BGCGW 5- 8 grade students for career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math.
Tonight's kickoff will focus on challenging some 100 or more middle school students to create mechanisms that transfer energy from one object to another in the tradition of inventor and engineer Rube Goldberg. Goldberg's creations were famous for using convoluted methods to perform simple tasks. Pepco commissioned Discovery Education to compile the digital curriculum on energy and infrastructure that makes up the Pepco STEM Club.
"Pepco is thrilled to partner with Discovery Education and the Boys & Girls Clubs on this important initiative," said Dave Velazquez, executive vice president, power delivery for Pepco Holdings Inc. "Young students are introduced to the dynamic and exciting world of technology through STEM. The program nurtures aspirations and provides educational direction to which the participating children may not otherwise be exposed."
Discovery Education provides the Pepco STEM Club's digital curriculum which includes hands-on and virtual labs, engineering challenges, digital investigations, videos and career connections -all designed to immerse children in the grand challenges of science set forth by the National Academy of Engineering.
"Discovery Education is proud to partner with Pepco and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington on the launch of Pepco STEM Club," said Lori McFarling, Chief Marketing Officer, Discovery Education. "This initiative is designed to foster interest and engagement in critical STEM skills outside the classroom and we salute these organizations for their commitment to prepare today's students for college, the needs of tomorrow's workforce and citizenship."
For more information, please visit http://www.pepcostemclub.com/ and www.discoveryeducation.com.