April 30, 2013

TAG Education Collaborative (TAG-Ed), the Technology Association of Georgia's charitable organization dedicated to preparing the next-generation workforce, is proud to announce that over 260,000 students and educators will join in a statewide celebration of science, technology, engineering, and math education on May 3, 2013, with registration growing each day.

Governor Nathan Deal issued a proclamation designating Georgia STEM Day as May 3 with the purpose of promoting STEM education and careers to K-12 students to help Georgia meet the growing demands of an increasingly technical marketplace.

"We are thrilled by the overwhelming response and support of the first Georgia STEM Day. Participation has immensely exceeded our expectations, and we are proud to see it has become a truly statewide celebration of STEM education," said Katie Dion, director of communications and engagement, TAG-Ed. "We couldn't have achieved this success in our first year without the efforts of our community partners, who have amplified STEM Day's reach by promoting our cause and by providing educational resources."

TAG-Ed has collaborated with over 30 Georgia education institutions, associations, and STEM-based companies to establish Georgia STEM Day as an annual celebration of STEM.

"As a leader in the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, I'm reminded daily of the importance of having a professional workforce that is proficient in STEM skills," said Shan Cooper, Lockheed Martin vice president and general manager-Marietta, Greenville, Clarksburg and Meridian, and board chair, Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education. "As the current board chair of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, I'm so pleased that we are partnering with TAG-Ed and many other forward-thinking organizations on this first statewide effort to raise awareness of the exciting possibilities provided by STEM education. If we are to be truly competitive globally, it is vital that we prepare our young people properly for the challenges ahead."

Participation ranges from individual classrooms to entire school districts. Some educators are partnering with local companies to provide speakers and field trip opportunities that compliment their STEM curriculum in order to help students make the vital connection between the classroom and STEM careers.

Other classes will focus on hands-on activities to reinforce STEM learning. For example, in Bryan County High School, an engineering class will launch hand made "wizard rockets" to conclude their unit on aerospace engineering. At Buford Middle School, all grade levels will be given a different challenge to solve during their CTAE Connections block. The eighth grade will use forces and simple machines to create an egg catapult, the seventh grade students will use problem solving and surface area to create a kite with the longest flight time, and the sixth grade students will apply the propulsion concept and create a 10 to 15 feet long clothespin shuttle. In Columbus, students of Hannan Elementary Magnet Academy will listen to a speaker from TSYS, followed by an instructional project to explore the mechanics of machines using K'NEX construction toys.

"The Georgia Department of Education is excited that so many schools and students have chosen to promote STEM in the classroom on May 3," said Gilda Lyon, CTAE program specialist and STEM coordinator, Georgia Department of Education. "This is evidence of the new wave of preparing students for the high paying, highly skilled, and high demand STEM jobs we need in Georgia over the next twenty years."

An informational video about Georgia STEM Day is available on TAG-Ed's website: http://bit.ly/GASTEMDay.

To learn more or to register your class or organization for Georgia STEM Day, please visit http://bit.ly/GASTEMDay. To follow the conversation on Twitter, track #GASTEMDay.

Organizations and partners supporting Georgia STEM Day include:

  • After-School All Stars
  • Atlanta Science Festival
  • Bulloch County Schools
  • Cbeyond
  • Cisco
  • Clayton State University
  • Definition 6
  • Discover Your World
  • Dewar College of Education at Valdosta State University
  • Georgia Afterschool Investment Council
  • Georgia Association For Career And Technical Education
  • Georgia Charter School Association
  • Georgia College
  • The Georgia Department of Education
  • Georgia Gwinnett College
  • Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education
  • Georgia Perimeter College
  • Georgia State University College of Education
  • Georgia State University J. Mack Robinson College of Business
  • Georgia Southern College of Education
  • Georgia Southern Institute for Interdisciplinary STEM Education (i2STEMe)
  • Georgia Tech Direct to Discovery
  • Georgia Tech Research Institute
  • Georgia Tech CEISMC
  • Georgia Youth Science and Technology Centers
  • Google
  • Gwinnett County Public Schools
  • Hypepotamus
  • Junior Achievement
  • Microsoft
  • Parker Executive Search
  • Peak 10
  • Project Lead the Way
  • The Sandy Springs Education Force
  • Southern Polytechnic State University Teach
  • The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG)
  • University of Georgia College of Engineering

About TAG Education Collaborative
TAG Education Collaborative is dedicated to developing science, technology, engineering and math initiatives in Georgia. Through partnerships with statewide STEM programs, TAG-Ed fosters student interest in STEM in order to increase appreciation for the opportunities available through technology careers. TAG-Ed hosts an internship program for high school students, two web-based team challenges for students interested in Health IT and web design, and the Vine Event, an annual fundraiser benefiting STEM education. For additional information, visit TAG Education Collaborative or contact Michael Robertson at (404) 920-2038 or mrobertson@tagonline.org.

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