Ken Wechselberger
Clete Lipetzky
For the past six years, residents of PebbleCreek have been volunteering at local schools. Their efforts have been funded by General Motors Corp who supplies science kits, materials, and teacher lesson plans for the schools.
The science kits have been developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) with the goal of developing student interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Successful activity has resulted at Millennium High School, Western Sky Middle School in Goodyear, Canyon View High School in Waddell, Grace Fellowship Academy in Buckeye, and Countryplace Charter School in Tolleson. Award medals for the Project Finals are donated by the General Motors Alumni Club of Arizona.
The volunteers follow the classroom teachers’ lead and assist the students in hands on projects. Projects range from mechanized cars, to gravity cruisers, to building small airplanes and even jet toys powered by balloons. Student and parent involvement have been solid, the students are actively involved and enjoy the challenging projects. Volunteers will work in the schools one or two hours a day, one day a week.
The program has grown in the past year and more schools are asking for the science kits as their popularity has developed in the West Valley. More volunteers are needed, please contact Ken Wechselberger if you would care to help with this activity; [email protected] or 623-251-3648.