NW Valley Times

Vista del Sur eighth grader Joaquin Miller and his team showcased their skills at the MESA Regional Design Day hosted on the GCU campus. Cheering on the microrobot's impressive performance, Nathaniel Sanou exclaimed, “Whoo! Eighteen seconds and 66! 11 less seconds!!!!”

The event, co-hosted by Grand Canyon University and the University of Arizona, brought together middle and high school students from 20 underrepresented STEM schools to participate in various engineering challenges. Dr. Cori Araza, senior project director of K12 STEM Outreach, emphasized the importance of providing opportunities for underrepresented students in the STEM fields, stating, “We had 340 students from this neighborhood that we served today on campus.”

GCU students, such as software development junior Savannah Krey, played a vital role in facilitating the event and mentoring the young participants. Krey expressed her passion for STEM outreach, saying, “I LOVE STEM outreach and to see my love of coding be translated to the younger generation.” She also highlighted the joy of witnessing students' excitement and growth in their STEM interests.

The MESA Regional Design Day served as a platform for students to practice for the upcoming state competition while honing their engineering skills. One notable team from Vista del Sur worked on improving their Cornhole Catapult Challenge device, incorporating new elements like pool noodles to enhance its performance.

Another highlight of the event was the MESA Attack Vehicle Design Challenge, where students engaged in robot sumo wrestling. Dr. Kerri Palmer, a science teacher at Vista del Sur, emphasized the real-world applications of the competition, stating, “They (students) are programming and using engineering design processes.”

The event also showcased the creativity and teamwork of students, such as those from Trevor Browne High School, who took on the challenge of building a rubber-band-powered car on-site. Araza commended the ingenuity displayed by the students and highlighted the leadership demonstrated by GCU's own students in inspiring the next generation of STEM enthusiasts.

Overall, the MESA Regional Design Day at GCU served as a platform for underrepresented K12 students to explore and excel in the fields of mathematics, engineering, and science, with the support and guidance of dedicated mentors and educators.