Mike Wolanin | The Republic Schoolchildren compete at a robotics camp at the Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Columbus on June 23.
Kids love Legos, and when you combine them with robotics to create little programmable vehicles, does it get much better?
Recent robotics camps were hosted by Purdue Polytechnic Columbus with a number of community partners at the airpark campus in the Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence.
Far from just fun and games, the camps gave primarily Black and Latino kids hands-on training that built on their science, technology, engineering, math and team skills. And it also provided opportunities that some of their parents said they wish they’d had when they were kids.
“We’re having trouble finding employees, we’re having trouble finding people — here’s two groups of people who we’ve typically not engaged for these types of careers, and so we need to try to do that,” camp instructor and former PPC director Joe Fuehne told The Republic’s Jana Wiersema. “If we can convince some of them or at least give some of them a perspective that this is something you could do as a career, then I think that would be terrific.”
Every child who’s interested in STEM should have opportunities like this. PPC and its partners are to be commended for helping make that possible.
An effort to unite behind
Bartholomew County supports its local United Way like few other areas. In fact, The Republic’s Brian Blair recently reported that the local chapter again topped the state in per-capita giving, raising $4.17 million in its most recent campaign.
And in response, United Way has an ambitious new goal: Elevating 1,000 local families out of poverty in the next 2,000 days.
Bartholomew County United Way President Mark Stewart put it plainly, saying poverty “causes trauma for everyone it touches. And most critically, poverty robs our community’s children of their ability to reach their full potential.”
The 15 agencies that United Way dollars fund locally connect with about a third of county residents, Blair reported, and they are well positioned to help meet this goal. With lots of help, of course, from people in the community who recognize the value of contributing to United Way.
Have a happy, safe 4th!
As you celebrate Independence Day, be safe and heed the cautions of local fire officials regarding abnormally dry conditions. Use extreme caution with fireworks.
“Despite the recent rain, Columbus and the surrounding area have received considerably less precipitation than normal over the past couple months,” The Republic’s Andy East reported. In fact, since May, we have a rainfall deficit of more than 6 inches.
Have a great holiday, but keep the water handy and keep a watchful eye on those rockets’ red glare.
