Gov. Charlie Baker with STEM Week Challenge participants. (Kevin Coleman/WBZ NewsRadio)
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Students from across the Commonwealth got to show off their ideas for creating zero-waste solutions to industry professionals, state officials, and even Gov. Charlie Baker Friday.
Project Lead The Way hosted over 600 students from kindergarten through 12th grade for the STEM Week Challenge at the Reggie Lewis Center in Roxbury.
"Instead of just turning in their project for a grade, kids are getting to come and present to industry experts from the real world to make their work even stronger," Katherine Skrivan, Director of the Mass STEM Hub, told WBZ NewsRadio's Kevin Coleman.
Gov. Baker explained just how significant applied learning projects like this challenge are to students.
"There are a lot of different ways you can do this and benefit from it, and have a chance to solve problems, learn things you didn't know," he said. "I think we have a real opportunity here if we built on the early returns on this."
Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito agreed.
"An elementary school, middle school, and high school with an applied learning experience is really what we need to see more of," Polito said. "It's in some school districts, but it's not in every school district.
Sara, a fifth grader at A.C. Whelan Elementary School in Revere, described how happy she was to be there with her class.
"Only one group out of the whole class would get chosen, and we weren't expecting our group project to win," she said. "We were really excited about it!"
WBZ NewsRadio's Kevin Coleman (@KevinColemanWBZ) reports
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App