Franklin County teachers Shay Pounds of Red Bay, Sammi McConnell of Phil Campbell, and Simon Mak of Vina, along with Franklin County students Cheyenne Wallace of Red Bay, Brooke Shotts of Red Bay, Dylan Adkins of Belgreen and Makenna Gober of Red Bay, participated in the UNA STEM Camp 2018 this month.

Regional math and science teachers learned to integrate computer programming, mathematical proof and engineering activities into their middle and high school classrooms through a two-week content intensive Summer Institute. The program was funded through a Math/Science Partnership Grant, and classes were taught by UNA math and CS professors.

Student campers completed physics laser light, Python programming, math proof writing and astronomy activities. They also competed for prizes in an engineering Catapult and a Shoals Spark Competition.

“Shoals Spark is an idea competition, similar to STEM Camp, for middle school, high school and college students living in the Shoals area of northwest Alabama,” Pounds explained. “The purpose is to foster innovation and entrepreneurship by getting young people in our community to generate unique and creative ideas about how to make the Shoals a cool place to live and work.”

Wallace was the Shoals Spark winner in resident camp one. Shotts placed second in resident camp two.

Sponsors include Listerhill Credit Union; Shoals Spark, Mitch Hamm and Dr. Amber Paulk; UNA Mathematics, Dr. Cindy Stenger; and CSIS departments, Dr. James Jerkins.

The next Shoals Spark event is March 14, 2019. Find out more at www.shoalsspark.com.