More than 80 elementary and middle school students participated in the University of North Georgia's (UNG) 2024 Summer Scholars STEM Institute. The program designed for students in fourth to eighth grade occurred during June and is supported by the Tommy and Chantal Bagwell Foundation, Jackson EMC Foundation, Habersham EMC Foundation and the United Way of Hall County. 

In its 10th year, the summer program is overseen by UNG College of Education (COE) associate professor Dr. Max Vazquez Dominguez, who shared that 19 COE students helped facilitate the STEM Institute as preservice teachers. 

"Our preservice teachers gained a rich experience developing lesson plans in science and engineering in 12 days and implementing them for 15 days under the supervision of UNG faculty and experienced instructors," Vazquez Dominguez said. "This summer course also provided preservice teachers with the opportunity to take the science methods course before they got to their senior year." 

Of the preservice teachers participating, eight are pursuing degrees in middle grades education and 11 are pursuing degrees in elementary and special education.  

With 83 students in fourth through eighth grade, the majority of them multilingual, UNG's preservice teachers had a chance to learn "how to plan and implement linguistically sustaining activities for them," Vazquez Dominguez said. 

UNG rising senior Imelda Razo, who is pursuing a degree in middle grades education, served as a preservice teacher for the third time this summer.

At the beginning of her time at the institute, she taught the middle schoolers engineering concepts like force and motion by building balloon cars, which she shared was her favorite lesson. 

"It was amazing seeing their creativity and how engaged they were with creating their own car," the Gainesville, Georgia, native said. "It is so rewarding forming connections with students and seeing how their creativity ignites when creating projects. The faculty are our biggest supporters. Without their help and support, this would not have been possible." 

Razo hopes to continue her education by earning a master's degree and working with students.