BREMERTON — A Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility program of educational outreach has earned a Navy Community Service Program award from Navy Region Northwest.
The Shipyard’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math outreach program won the award for large shore commands in the Personal Excellence Partnership category, the Region announced in a Navy message on Sept. 27, 2016. The program is now eligible to compete against other worthwhile Navy projects for service-wide recognition.
“These winning entries show our Navy’s commitment to the communities that support us,” said Rear Adm. Gary Mayes, commander, Navy Region Northwest, in the message announcing the award. “They reflect the highest standards in the Navy for the Navy Community Service Program and serve as an example for others to emulate.”
The Shipyard’s STEM outreach program works with local Kitsap-area school districts to develop students and promote academic achievement and interest in STEM subjects. Over the past year, PSNS & IMF STEM outreach activities have reached more than 3,900 students in the local community.
“The lessons and activities that are brought in are hands-on and relevant,” said Courtney Vetter, fifth-grade teacher at South Colby Elementary in Port Orchard. “My most reluctant learners are completely engaged. I appreciate the expertise of the engineers and find that the exposure to true professionals is inspiring to kids. It is so wonderful to see students become open to and aware of STEM careers in our region.”
More than 130 PSNS & IMF personnel volunteer to mentor students, judge local science fairs and participate in STEM events with hands-on exhibits for students and families. PSNS & IMF often partners with personnel from Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Keyport, Puget Sound Navy Museum and Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport to participate in or host STEM events.
“We truly appreciate the support that we have received from the Command, the community and our Naval partners to do this work,” said PSNS & IMF K-12 STEM Outreach Coordinator Corrine Beach. “Even though the award is for (the Shipyard), this is truly a partnered effort between us, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Keyport, Naval Undersea Museum and the Puget Sound Navy Museum. The diversity of programming that we can offer to the number of students we do is absolutely a direct result of partnering and doing more together.”
The PSNS & IMF STEM outreach program also sponsors the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics, SeaPerch and Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) programs.
The mission of the Navy Community Service Program is to help build stronger communities and to develop mission-ready personnel through outreach activities, volunteerism and community service. The regional winners have been submitted to compete at the national level, where a national winner will be selected for each flagship category.
“The STEM Partnership means the world to me as an educator,” said Blake Geisinger, engineering teacher at Bremerton High School, “it means having support for real world materials, processes and expertise enter my classroom on a regular basis so that students can learn and work with real world problems both in and out of the classroom walls.
“The ROV program in particular has produced experiences which have been a part of students being accepted in to employment and apprenticeship opportunities at major businesses, opportunities that are a basis for high wage jobs which provide quality lives.”
— Edited by Michelle Beahm
