{"id":219167,"date":"2025-07-28T12:30:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T22:30:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=219167"},"modified":"2025-07-28T12:30:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T22:30:09","slug":"maui-middle-schoolers-stem-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/07\/28\/maui-middle-schoolers-stem-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Maui middle schoolers power up STEM<\/abbr> skills in free summer program"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Students explore virtual reality, a key component of the summer STEM<\/abbr> program.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Maui College<\/a> hosted a free three-week summer STEM<\/abbr> program, which saw participation nearly double from the previous year. One hundred fifty seven Maui middle school students engaged in hands-on learning across science, technology, engineering and math disciplines at the Verizon Innovative Learning STEM<\/abbr> Achievers Program<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Students learn about aquaponics at UH<\/abbr> Maui College.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Students explored robotics, 3D<\/abbr> printing, coding and virtual reality, culminating in final projects designed to address community needs. One group created a device to measure soil moisture and automate watering, aiming to assist local farmers. Another group utilized virtual reality (VR<\/abbr>) to recreate historical Lahaina landmarks damaged in the 2023 wildfires, envisioning their work as a tool for cultural preservation and fundraising. Other projects included a medicine delivery service for remote areas and 3D<\/abbr>-printed tools for traditional Hawaiian art forms.<\/p>\n

“This year\u2019s program truly showcased the incredible potential of our middle schoolers,” said Tara O\u2019Neill, a project leader and UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa College of Education<\/a> professor. “Seeing their innovative solutions, from agricultural tech to cultural preservation through VR<\/abbr>, reinforced the importance of providing these hands-on STEM<\/abbr> opportunities.”<\/p>\n

Technology, community, recovery<\/h2>\n
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Students working with microbits, small programmable computers, during the summer STEM<\/abbr> program at UH<\/abbr> Maui College.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This year’s camp was supported by a National Science Foundation RAPID<\/abbr> grant<\/a>, co-led by principal investigator O\u2019Neill, and co-principal investigator and UH<\/abbr> Maui College Assistant Professor Thomas Blamey. The grant specifically supported the development of trauma-informed STEM<\/abbr> learning environments. A major shift in the curriculum this year, developed in collaboration with year 1 instructors, applied a trauma-informed and STEM<\/abbr>S^2 (science, technology, engineering and math with the social sciences and sense of place) lens. This approach emphasized using technology as a tool to address real-world community challenges, and provided students the freedom and support to explore solutions most relevant to them and their community.<\/p>\n

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Behind the innovation: The team of educators and mentors from the successful summer STEM program at UH<\/abbr> Maui College.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mentors, including UH<\/abbr> System faculty and students, guided participants through the immersive experience. The program blended cutting-edge STEM<\/abbr> education with daily Hawaiian cultural practices, starting each morning with a traditional oli (chant). It also provided transportation for West Maui students, ensuring broader access to the UH<\/abbr> Maui College campus.<\/p>\n

“This program powerfully demonstrated that STEM<\/abbr> extends beyond just technology; it’s deeply rooted in our community, especially as we focus on Maui\u2019s recovery,” Blamey said. “Seeing our students apply their skills to real-world challenges, including those related to the wildfires, truly highlights their connection to our island home.”<\/p>\n

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The future of STEM<\/abbr>: Participants from the impactful summer program at UH<\/abbr> Maui College gather for a group photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

First launched on Kauaʻi<\/span> in 2021, the Verizon Innovative Learning STEM Achievers Program has expanded its reach, offering camps for middle schoolers on Oʻahu<\/span>, Maui, and beginning this year, on Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Island. Statewide participation this year reached approximately 300 students.<\/p>\n

“The Verizon Innovative Learning STEM<\/abbr> Achievers Program provides our youth with exposure to technology applications that they will be using both while continuing their education and into their careers,” said Dirk Soma, a professor at Kauaʻi<\/span> Community College<\/a> and the Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> director of the Verizon Innovative Learning STEM<\/abbr> Achievers program. “We are so grateful to partner with Verizon, the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship, and leadership at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Maui College to make this program available to Maui’s community!”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Maui middle schoolers dove into a summer STEM<\/abbr> program, tackling real-world challenges with cutting-edge technology.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":219169,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[95,64,1466,313,9,60,947],"class_list":["post-219167","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-college-of-education","tag-kauai-community-college","tag-manoa-enhancing-student-success","tag-stem","tag-uh-manoa","tag-maui-college","tag-uh-system","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t