ARTESIA — Students at Zia Intermediate School and Park Junior High School are celebrating new science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) centers at their schools, developed by the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation in partnership with Devon Energy, Edgewater Federal Solutions, the Estelle H. Yates Foundation, Marathon Oil and SIMCO.
Danny Parker, Artesia Public Schools assistant superintendent of secondary education, said the new STEM Centers provide opportunities for innovative, out-of-the-box thinking.
“Our students now have a unique outlet for fostering their technological skills and stretching their imaginations,” Parker said. “We are extremely grateful to the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation and the corporate partners involved in helping create bright futures in Artesia.”
Ripken Foundation STEM Centers include innovative learning equipment like 3D printers, Snap Circuits, Sphero Bolts and Tello Drones. These tools help students hone their problem-solving abilities and stretch their imaginations.
Steve Salem, president and CEO of the Ripken Foundation, said one of the organization’s goals is to help children discover important life lessons like teamwork, respect and resilience.
“Our focus on science, technology, engineering and math is bringing positive experiences and new learning opportunities to youth in Artesia,” Salem said. “These STEM Centers bring students together to collaborate as they engage with interactive tools, sparking their imaginations so they can achieve their full potential. We’d like to also thank Devon Energy, Edgewater Federal Solutions, Estelle H. Yates Foundation, Marathon Oil and SIMCO for partnering with us on this initiative.”
The Ripken Foundation provides training, a curriculum guidebook and activity kits to enhance the tools in the STEM Centers. The organization has opened more than 350 STEM Centers nationwide.
Since 2009, the Ripken Foundation has 113 completed parks across the country in 26 states and Washington, D.C. In addition, since 2016, the Ripken Foundation has installed over 350 STEM Centers in 20 states. For more information, visit www.RipkenFoundation.org.
