Stuthi and Sitara Uppalapati (Volunteer) building a bridge out of toothpicks and marshmallows with Amelie (Engineering component)! Photo contributed
On February 12, Girl Scout Ambassador Stuthi Iyer, of Great Falls, a Senior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, completed her Gold Award project. This is the highest honor for a scout. She created a set of STEAM Workshops and a Science Fair of Novel Research Projects for Title I (underserved) students at Herndon Elementary School. Her team, consisting of Herndon’s Assistant Principal and friends helped to design the curriculum and guide student projects. She hoped to foster an interest in STEAM and related careers at an early age and her goal was accomplished. The local community could see an underserved group being empowered through project-based learning. As she leaves the project to a group of students from grades 9-11, she hopes to take part in contributing greater community involvement and reveling in the joy of these passionate kids.