The Chief Science Officers travelled to the sweetest place in PA. The CSOs attended the Pennsylvania Educational Technology Expo and Conference (PETE & C) in Hershey, PA, on Wednesday, February 4. Chief Science Officers is a club that promotes STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) throughout the community. Each year, they create an action plan that includes STEAM ideas to be completed throughout the year. 

The CSOs set up tables outside the invention convention. They showcased their action plans using presentations and pamphlets. As guests and attendees of the event passed, some stopped to learn more about the program. CSOs explained what the CSO program does, explained how the group promotes STEAM throughout the school and community, and also showcased their action plans. Many action plans included running booths at the STEAM fair. 

After the invention convention and CSOs had discussed their action plans, they had the opportunity to attend an award ceremony celebrating the many accomplishments of students who participated in the invention convention. CSOs received a pasta and salad buffet lunch while the award ceremony was taking place. 

CSO Alexa Prestash says, “ My favorite part of the day was being able to talk to so many people, and I thought it was really great and really awesome that we got to see so many other CSOs showcase their action plans from other units and schools.” This year, Prestash taught STEAM lessons in fifth-grade classrooms. 

Coby Kephart and Skyler Hebel showed students how to make Lava Lamps while also teaching lessons about polarity. Ally McCamley and Emily Shingledecker worked with students to create seed pods.  Evan Emigh taught students how to build airplanes and introduced them to basic aerodynamics. Alexa Prestash and Evan Wooster explained concepts like paper airplanes, penny boats, and other fun STEAM challenges for students to compete in. The Chief Science Officers carried out their action plans on February 25th at the STEAM Fair.