Middle school students participate in STEM Week

CAMP PENDLETON – This summer, two schools from Fallbrook Union Elementary School District, San Onofre School and Mary Fay Pendleton, participated in Camp Pendleton’s STEM Week. Every year, Camp Pendleton’s Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity (MCTSSA) offers an inspiring week of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) to six middle school students from each of its base schools.

Students engaged in trebuchet competitions, water rocket design and contests, programming with Raspberry Pi, wave theory, circuitry, drones, and robotic competitions. In addition to a school coach, each team was mentored by military and civilian engineers. MCTSSA’s mentorship provides each student an opportunity to explore STEM and its career applications.

“Camp Pendleton’s STEM Week was an amazing week of learning for the students and for me," said Maria Flaherty, a STEM coach at San Onofre School. "MCTSSA’s leaders and mentors gave outstanding opportunities to apply science knowledge and to learn about engineering from engineers.”

Kai Hernandez, a San Onofre School student, added, “This week ignited my interest in the field of engineering and computer science. STEM week influences future career choices. Overall, MCTSSA's STEM week was an amazing opportunity and very inspiring.”