46 Catholic Students attend Cummings Aerospace Camp at UA

By Carissa Krautscheid

Forty-six middle school students from Catholic schools across Tucson attended a free STEM camp hosted by Cummings Aerospace and the University of Arizona (UA) College of Engineering. 

The camp was open to middle school students from throughout the Diocese of Tucson. Sixth, seventh, and eighth graders attended from Immaculate Heart, Saints Peter and Paul, Saint Ambrose, and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (SEAS) Schools. “We deliberately tried to mix students up amongst the schools and by grade level to encourage them to meet new friends,” said Kelly Francis, Executive Vice President of Cummings Aerospace.

The week-long curriculum was developed by Francis who is also a junior high math and engineering teacher at SEAS and a parent of Catholic students. 

Participants enjoyed “one day learning 3D design and printing; one day in Python, which is a programming language used in virtually every industry and scientific field today; and two and a half days in robotics,” said Francis.
 
“Students developed self-confidence in using the technology. In 3D design and printing, students learned how to use TinkerCAD, a 3D computer aided design modeling tool, and Flashforge Adventurer 3 printers. After learning the basics in TinkerCAD, the students designed and printed two or more projects of increasing complexity.”

Next, students “learned basic Python syntax and the benefits of being able to write software. Then they successfully wrote eight short programs in Python using the Visual Studio Code Integrated Development Environment.”
 
Finally, “students assembled then coded a Makeblock mBot Robot in teams of two. The assembly process took over two hours. The robots were then coded using block code with two onboard sensors: a line-following sensor and an obstacle-avoidance sensor. At the end of the week, we had a competition to see which robot could successfully complete a performance course where it had to both follow a line and avoid two obstacles.” Students showed noticeable growth as they collaborated, solved problems, and overcame challenges.
 
“By Wednesday,” said Francis, “the most common question from both parents and students was, ‘What are the dates for camp next year?’ Python and TinkerCAD are available for free online, so students can continue their learning at home after camp.”

Classes were taught by three SEAS teachers: Monique Durbin, Adrienne Garcia, and Meg Pietsch. “The UA College of Engineering provided six camp counselors to assist our teachers in the classroom and throughout the day. Students developed new friendships and the UA counselors served as great mentors to the students."
 
“Promoting STEM education is part of our values and culture at Cummings Aerospace,” said Francis. “Sheila Cummings, President and CEO, dedicates a significant portion of our corporate charitable contributions every year to STEM education in the forms of classroom learning, like the donated 3D printer labs at SEAS and Santa Cruz, and summer camp programs. The Cummings Aerospace Engineering Summer Camp was free in order to give all students an opportunity to learn technology areas they may not have had exposure to before, and to continue to foster their problem solving and team building skills.”

Because all teachers and students were from Diocesan schools, “giving thanks to God was part of our camp day," shared Francis. "We used prayer to help the students focus their minds and their hearts in the morning as they took on the day’s challenges and students led us in prayer before lunch. It was so moving to have a student start the table blessing and for the entire room, full of students from around the Diocese, join in like they had been doing this together their whole lives. We also talked with the students about how they were representing their families, their schools, and the Diocese while they were on the UA campus. So, they should be Disciples of Christ and that means being polite, helpful, respectful, and friendly to each other and to others that were working and studying on campus while we were there. We were the first middle school camp to be held on campus, so we wanted to be invited back!”

Thanks to Cummings Aerospace and the University of Arizona, these 46 students learned invaluable practical, social, and technological skills that will certainly stay with them as they explore ways of using their God-given talents in school and beyond.