LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – Around 30 area students and STEM teachers from local middle schools will have their STEM projects on exhibit in LaFollette during the Bosch Community Grant awards ceremony.

Postmark LaFollette is presenting the awards ceremony, which will take place on Sun., May 16, from 2 pm to 4 pm, at the Postmark LaFollette Arts, Culture and History center (the old post office building on North Tennessee Avenue). Area youth and STEM Teachers from Elk Valley STEM school, Jacksboro Middle school, Jellico Middle School, LaFollette Middle School and home school youth will have projects on display for the public to view. These “innovators” will be recognized with an award ceremony prior to the exhibits.

These projects, “We Are the Future,” were designed around “five questions that needed solutions” for the improvement of Campbell County. The questions were student submitted as a result of a 2019 Smithsonian: Crossroads- Change in Rural America exhibit, which students visited. “This event highlights the work of our Campbell County young people. We will present awards to honor their creativity and commitment to our county, as well as recognize their STEM teacher-mentors,” said Postmark LaFollette Co-chairs Karen Cumorich and JoAnne Myers.

This project was supported by a Bosch Community Grant to develop STEM solutions to issues raised during the Smithsonian: Crossroads – Change in Rural America Exhibit in 2019. The Five STEM questions represent a selection from the youth who attended the Smithsonian exhibit identified on postcards during their school visits.

After the presentation of awards at 2 pm, exhibits will be introduced by each group. Students and their STEM advisors will be on hand to answer any questions or discuss their ideas at exhibit tables following the awards.

The event is open to the public. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 05/06/2021-6AM)