Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Engineering firm asking students to 'dig into science'

Opportunity for Winchester students ..


SOMERSWORTH — Once again an engineering firm hopes to encourage the next generation of science and technology lovers through a contest for students in New Hampshire and Maine.

The second annual Dig Into Science with S. W. Cole Engineering contest is challenging students in kindergarten through grade 12 to produce a short video — no more than two minutes long and featuring no more than five students — explaining how science, math or engineering can be used to make the world a better place.

This year, seven winners, chosen from the various offices within the company, will receive $1,000 grants to use to organize a field trip or extra-curricular activity during the current school year involving science, technology, engineering or math at one of the 20 pre-approved programs or centers in the area.

The firm, headquartered in Bangor, Maine, remains a long-time supporter of education of science, technology, engineering and math, which are known as the STEM subjects, due to “the importance of these fields in the northern New England economy,” according Jennifer L. Booth, marketing and business development specialist for the company.

The contest provides an opportunity for students in New Hampshire and Maine to learn about the STEM subject “in a way that they might not have in a traditional classroom setting in addition to supporting some STEM-related programs in the area,” Booth said.

“New approved programs in NH include the Cheshire Children’s Museum in Keene and Ruggles Mine in Grafton,” Booth said.

Booth said the firm decided to initiate the contest last year after receiving numerous requests for donations in STEM-related organizations. As they have limited resources, she added, the company couldn’t support the demand without trying something else.

Last year, winning entries in New Hampshire came from Boynton Middle School in New Ipswich and Portsmouth Middle School.

For more information or to enter the contest, go to swcole.com/dis2012 or facebook.com/SWColeEngineering.

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