These activities were part of the APS STEM Trajectory Initiative (STI) which provide a comprehensive and continuous plan for bringing coordinated and synergistic STEM curricula into the K-12 classrooms, as well as to joint field programs such as STEM Days held at participating STI schools. The STI leaders match schools with community groups which provide on-going support for STEM education. The New Mexico Space Studies (NMSS), a group of Amateur Radio enthusiasts, educators and technologists, have supported APS STI since their first mission, and have pioneered safe planning, launch, flight, and recovery operations of FAA approved HAB launches in New Mexico. The STI also receives financial support from the Albuquerque Education Foundation, the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems, Inc,., and Sandia National Labs.
In addition to the featured High Altitude Balloon missions, faculty and staff from WMHS created an agenda full of exciting demonstrations, displays and forums, including a live Amateur Radio station demonstration, compliments of the High Desert Amateur Radio Club, HAB exploration and technology displays, Flight Simulators, demonstrations from the New Mexico Fractal Foundation, robotics exhibits, and TARC Rocketry. Cadets from WMHS and VHS were available at each display, demonstration and forum to answer questions and provide explanations as students moved through a planned rotation schedule.
This Partnership STEM Event is part of the APS STEM Trajectory Initiative, where the magic of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math is taught; starting in elementary school and continuing all the way through high school. The initiative aligns with the feeder school structure and breaks the cycle of low test scores and high truancy by creating a culture of hands-on, real world application of technology, which aligns with the state adopted, Common Core State Standards. The goal of the STEM initiative is to produce more high school graduates, better prepared to go into technical fields. The merging of High Altitude Balloon Near-Space Exploration and Amateur Radio with public education represents a new opportunity to place increasing emphasis on, and to give our students greater success with, the curriculum for the future -- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. For additional information, please contact:
Alma Ripley, Assistant Principal, Carlos Rey Elementary School, 1215 Cerrillos Rd. SW, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87121, (505) 836-7738, ripley_a@aps.edu
Major Mark Hendricks, USMC (Ret), West Mesa High School NJROTC, 6701 Fortuna Rd NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87121, (505) 417-6314, hendricks_ml@aps.edu.