The Advanced Technology Center hosted a STEM Day to give middle and high school counselors throughout the division a firsthand glimpse into life as a student at the ATC.

Counselors were provided opportunities to participate in fun, hands-on activities conducted by students giving them a better understanding of the unique and diverse programs available at the center. These included producing a short video in Marketing Management, using an injection and blow mold to create a key chain in Engineering Technology, working on graphic design projects in Digital Design, manipulating fiber optics and Chromecast TV in Telecommunications and modeling an exploding box using 3D Studio Max Software.

The day began with a luncheon to welcome counselors. ATC parent Brenda Cutting eagerly shared how the ATC’s Modeling and Simulation/Engineering Technology programs successfully prepared her daughter, Blair, for the mechanical engineering program at Embry Riddle University.

Joel McDonald, VBCPS School Board member and Cisco Networking Academy alumnus, shared his journey from the ATC classroom to becoming a successful information technology business owner. “Earning valuable industry certification from the ATC opened up doors for me and made me stand out as a candidate,” he said. Trent Dorroh, from ABS Technology Architects (recognized as a 2008 Model Partner with the ATC), closed boasting that his company has hired more than 30 ATC Telecommunications and Cisco alumni over the past 11 years.

“ATC students enjoyed the opportunity to teach counselors about their STEM classes,” shared Ann Marie Garvey, assistant director at the ATC. “I hope counselors feel better prepared to share program offerings at the ATC with students interested in pursuing technology and engineering careers.”