BLAST Camp Immerses High Schoolers in STEM-Rich Experiences

A young woman in T-shirt, jeans and goggles cuts wood with an electric saw.
June 27, 2023
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ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ hosted BLAST Camp from June 19 to 21, helping ninth- and 10th-grade students learn more about science, technology, engineering and math. The camp featured STEM enrichment experiences, with demonstrations by ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ faculty. Activities included a bridge-building project led by Michael Seek, associate professor in the Department of Engineering Technology. BLAST – short for Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology – is a partnership of ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ, the Virginia Space Grant Consortium, Radford University, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, the College of William & Mary and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Photos Nicholas Clark and Sherry DiBari/ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ

After deciding what kind of support each bridge needs, students drill pieces into place. Photo Nicholas Clark/ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ

Andrea Ayala, working for BLAST, cuts wood for the trusses. Photo Sherry Dibari/ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ

From left, Aiden Washington, Luca Sanchez, Coke Sutton, Joshua Weigel and Fritz Whitfield team up to plan and build a bridge. Photo Nicholas Clark/ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ

Nathan Boisvert, an electrical engineering technology student, helps BLAST campers during the Radios From Ground to Sky session. Photo Nicholas Clark/ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ

Students work together to make sure their measurements are correct. Photo Nicholas Clark/ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ

Michael Seek, associate professor in the Department of Engineering Technology, explains structural design to students before they start building their bridges. Photo Nicholas Clark/ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ

Four students build a project using wood, while two others look on.
A young woman in T-shirt, jeans and goggles cuts wood with an electric saw.
Five young men sit around a table.
A man helps students working at computers.
Four young people work with pieces of wood.
A man stands in front of a room full of students.

After deciding what kind of support each bridge needs, students drill pieces into place. Photo Nicholas Clark/ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ

Andrea Ayala, working for BLAST, cuts wood for the trusses. Photo Sherry Dibari/ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ

From left, Aiden Washington, Luca Sanchez, Coke Sutton, Joshua Weigel and Fritz Whitfield team up to plan and build a bridge. Photo Nicholas Clark/ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ

Nathan Boisvert, an electrical engineering technology student, helps BLAST campers during the Radios From Ground to Sky session. Photo Nicholas Clark/ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ

Students work together to make sure their measurements are correct. Photo Nicholas Clark/ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ

Michael Seek, associate professor in the Department of Engineering Technology, explains structural design to students before they start building their bridges. Photo Nicholas Clark/ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ