Students take part in 4-H Day
(pictured above: 4-H National Youth Science Day particpants pose with presenters, elected officials and others.)
Students gathered at the Forsyth County Agriculture Building on Fairchild Road on Wednesday, Oct. 8 to take part in 4-H National Youth Science Day.
The day was a part of National 4-H Week, in which thousands of students across the national took part.
Shanika Gray
“To create new scientists, mathematicians, and technology professionals – our goal is to have a day where children around the world are doing the same experiment. It also has a social media component where they will be Tweeting, Facebooking and Insta-graming all of the things that we are doing today,” said 4-H Youth Development Specialist Shanika Gray, who organized the event.
The “Rockets to the Rescue” experiment, designed by the University of Arizona, called for students to build a rocket that could deliver food – four Goldfish crackers in this case – to people stranded on an island. The food had to remain intact and hit an exact target in order for the experiment to be successful. They were given an hour and a soda bottle, rubber bands and various other items to complete the task.
More than 100 years-old, 4-H engages those from ages 5 through 21 in science, agricultural, engineering and technology. Last week’s national event was a fun way to encourage students to consider careers in those fields.
Oparanozie
Chigaemecha Oparanozie, 13, is already there. The Paisley IB Middle student was intrigued about the event as soon as he heard about it.
“I wanted to learn more about the field of engineering, the types (of engineers) and what you do,” he said.
The program also included a tour of the B/E Aerospace Manufacturing Facility – also on Fairchild Road – that allowed students to see how airplane parts, seats and components are built.
“They got a chance to look at their manufacturing and design process, talk to some of the engineers and project managers, and looked through the facility as they develop new technologies for the aircraft cabin,” Gray said.
Vdaiyar
Hanes Middle School student Kayal Vdaiyar frequently takes 15-hour flights to India, so seeing how planes are put together was quite an experience for her.
“It was interesting to see how they made all the stuff and what materials they use. When you are riding in an airplane, you are not really thinking of what the seat is made of or how they prevent crashing,” she said.
The day also included a panel discussion and Q&A session with Chad Pinger of TIMCO Aviations; Samantha Magill of Honda Aircraft; Jennifer Jumas of Cessna Aircraft; and Kristine Rhinehardt, a Nanoscience and Nanoengineering doctoral candidate in a joint N.C. A&T and UNCG program.
County Commissioner Walter Marshall and Mayor Pro Tempore Vivian H. Burke also dropped by to speak to the students. Burke presented Gray and Mark Tucker, director of the Forsyth County Cooperative Extension, with a proclamation recognizing Oct. 8 as the National Youth Science Day in Winston-Salem.
The Nissen Building and Millennium Center, both prominent spots downtown, supported the effort by using green lights to illuminate their buildings last week. Green is 4–H’s signature color.
