Sporting KC teams up with Black & Veatch for STEM education program

Sporting Kansas City and Black & Veatch are collaborating to launch a program this summer aimed at building interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics among middle school students in the Kansas City, Kan., public schools.

The growSTEM program — named for the four curriculum areas — will include summer camps at Rosedale Middle School, with appearances by Sporting Kansas City players and Black & Veatch engineers.

“We feel this is an excellent way to reach our future generation of engineers,” said Becky Schieber, senior manager for charitable programs at the Overland Park-based engineering, construction and consulting firm.

The partnership, announced Wednesday, builds on other Black & Veatch STEM programs, including one with the Museum at Prairiefire in Overland Park.

The new growSTEM program will kick off with informational events April 9 at Coronado Middle School, April 14 at Rosedale Middle School and April 21 at West Middle School. There is a $10 application fee.

Schieber said the program hopes to attract 60 students this year, with plans to expand the next few years.

A camp solely for sixth-grade girls is scheduled for June 1-4. There will be two camp sessions for seventh-graders, June 1-4 and June 8-11. Two sessions are set for eighth-grade students, also June 1-4 and June 8-11.

Each camp will offer STEM-related curriculum and will include a classroom challenge focused on Sporting Kansas City. Activities will include learning about the engineering elements that went into the design of Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan., technology solutions for fan engagement and on-field data analysis of player performance, according to a news release announcing the program.

The Major League Soccer team sees this program with Black & Veatch as an opportunity to make “a lasting impact in the lives of area youth through sports and STEM,” the announcement said.

At the end of the program, students with perfect camp attendance will be honored Aug. 1 at Sporting Park.

For more information, contact Rachel Macek with Kansas City, Kan., schools at 913-627-2662 or rachel.macek@kckps.org.

This story was originally published April 1, 2015 at 5:25 PM with the headline "Sporting KC teams up with Black & Veatch for STEM education program."