SCC hosts STEAM Day for local eighth graders
On the sixth of March, Somerset Community College (SCC) welcomed 81 eighth-grade students from middle schools across the region for an exciting STEAM Day event. The hands-on learning experience immersed students in activities centered on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM), reinforcing SCC’s commitment to inspiring the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers.
Throughout the day, students participated in a variety of interactive sessions led by SCC instructors and SCC students in college classrooms and labs on the Somerset campus. Sessions included:
- Monkey Hunter: A classic physics demonstration of projectile motion, where students experimented with aiming rubber balls at a stuffed monkey using an air cannon.
- Chemistry – Making Gel Fuel: Students learned to create gel fuel (sterno) using eggshells, vinegar, and ethyl alcohol, exploring core chemical principles.
- The Secret Science of Hair Color: A hands-on cosmetology session where students painted their own color wheel and learned how science and art intersect in hair color formulation and correction.
- Eyes on Gooey Science: Students examined real cow eyeballs to discover how eyes work, making science both tangible and memorable.
- What is Normal?: Statistical games introduced students to the concept of statistical normality in a fun, interactive way.
- Laparoscopic Surgery Simulation: Students used laparoscopic instruments to sew a pig (loofah), learning about innovations in surgical technology and patient care.
These sessions were taught by SCC instructors and college students, offering eighth graders a unique opportunity to learn directly from those pursuing and teaching STEAM careers.
Participating schools included: Clinton, Cumberland, Lincoln, McCreary, Meece, Northern Middle, Russell, Somerset Christian, Southern Middle and Wayne.
“Events like STEAM Day are crucial in shaping young minds and demonstrating that STEAM fields are not only impactful but also fun,” said SCC Mathematics Professor Roger Osborne. “We hope to inspire future leaders and innovators in these vital disciplines.”
For more information about Somerset Community College and future outreach events, visit somerset.kctcs.edu.
Southern Middle School students posing for a STEAM Day group photo on the SCC Somerset Campus.
Somerset Christian School Students on the Somerset SCC Campus for STEAM Day.
Pulaski 8th graders on the SCC Somerset Campus before STEAM sessions began.
Southern Middle School student trying her hand at a laparoscopic surgery technique with a needle, thread, real surgical tools, and a pink soap loofah.
A cosmetology STEAM Day session, exploring the world of color correction and color theory.
