After school club invites new recruits

An average meeting of the campus STEM club could include creating and launching potassium nitrate rockets, learning how to solder electronics, or building a working radio. Each week the club learns something new and exciting.

The STEM club, founded by Joey Huang, ‘18, just started its meetings, Aug. 30 in Room 622 every Wednesday. The club focuses on science and is currently expanding to technology, engineering and mathematics, the other divisions of STEM.

Dr. Karen Walters, the campus biology teacher, earned a Ph.D. in physiology. She studied at Cornell for her undergraduate and at UC Davis for her graduate. 

“The idea is to pick up some new skills, hang out with your friends, get a chance to do science that can’t do in class time,” Dr. Walters said. “Because class time is more limited and with STEM, we can be a little bit more exploratory. We can follow our hearts more in STEM.”

Walters supervises the STEM club along with fellow science teacher Scott Bucher. Bucher has taught a variety of subjects over the past three years including physics, AP calculus, chemistry. He majored in physical science with an emphasis on physics at Biola University. He earned his masters in math education at Fresno Pacific University.

Huang founded the club last year after approaching Dr. Walters initially. Her idea grew to what it is today.

“I started it last year, so I say I have been running for two years,” Huang said. “It is still very new and young but I am hoping to get it going. We had a decent amount of people [last year], I wouldn’t say we had too many, but not too few.

Last year’s STEM Club attracted four-six members to each meeting.

Huang elaborates on the goals of the STEM club and what they plan to do with the club. She wants to grow the club and bring in more members to add to the 10 members. Last year they experimented with molecular biology as well as “gas bombs.” They also plan to solder electronics along with many other engineering projects.  

“STEM is a place for those who have a passion for science but do not have an opportunity at home or outside of school to perform any of the science activities,” Huang said. “It is a place for them to come and express their passion for science, explore things about science, and just a place for everyone to have fun.”

Although the science department always accepts donations, Dr. Walters actively tries to organize the club into fundraising. She hopes that by doing this the club funds more engaging activities.

“We do have some [science projects] we can probably do on the science budget,” Dr. Walters said. “But I think with needing a little bit more we are going to do some fundraising. So we were talking about some fundraising possibilities; we will see what comes of that, but the kids are creative so I have faith.”

Even though STEM club’s focus is on education, they enjoy conducting experiments. Remember STEM Club meets every Wednesday in room 622 after school. Join STEM Club today!

Vijay Stephen can be reached via email at Vijay Stephen.

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