EAST LAURINBURG — Students and staff of the Partners in Ministry after school program took at trip to Orlando, Florida and visited the Kennedy Space Center and Universal Studios.

The after school program, named Strengthening Youth Through Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (SYSTEM) is focused on limiting knowledge lost during the summer months by engaging students in science, math, engineering, and technological curriculum while on break from school.

The field trip was a part of the 21st Century Learning Center NASA Challenge and had 15 Scotland County students participate. The trip was funded through the NASA learning center and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, which is a private biomedical research foundation based in the Research Triangle Park, according to Carolyn Banks, Scotland County School Board member at-large and SYSTEM program director.

Students spent a total of three days in the Sunshine State and prior to the trip, they have been working with NASA and its industry partners to design and build a space vehicle called the “Crew Exploration Vehicle” (CEV), designed to take astronauts to the moon, Mars, and other destinations in outer space.

The CEV will be able to transport astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit and back again, Banks said. “It must be designed to serve multiple functions and operate in a variety of environments. The engineering design process was used to guide the students’ work.”

SYSTEM students showed off their work in a video presentation in Charlotte at North Carolina’s 21st Century Synergy Conference in April. The Conference is the premiere after school and expanded learning conference in the state, according to Banks.

For information about SYSTEM, Partners in Ministry’s summer program, call 910-276-5352.

Courtesy photo The Partners in Ministry after school program, Strengthening Youth Through Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (SYSTEM), took 15 Scotland County students on a trip to Orlando, Florida where they visited NASA and Universal Studios.
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_nasa.jpgCourtesy photo The Partners in Ministry after school program, Strengthening Youth Through Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (SYSTEM), took 15 Scotland County students on a trip to Orlando, Florida where they visited NASA and Universal Studios.

Staff report