Turkeyfoot Middle School is one of two Kentucky schools to be honored by The LIFT—Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow national manufacturing institute, along with Tennessee Tech University iCube, the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network, the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers and the Foundation for Kentucky Industry.
Turkeyfoot is one of the winners of the 2016-2017 MakerMinded competition. Eight schools in Tennessee and Kentucky were recognized for excellence in advanced manufacturing and STEM learning through their participation in MakerMinded, a new online STEM learning and competition platform.
“These students are our future leaders in advanced manufacturing,” said Lawrence E. Brown, executive director, LIFT. “Through MakerMinded, they are not only learning foundational STEM skills, but getting hands-on experience in great manufacturing careers in their communities.”
MakerMinded was launched at the start of the 2016 school year to impassion students about advanced manufacturing and provide them with transformational learning experiences that set them on track towards 21st century manufacturing careers. The platform provides access to a diverse range of national and local STEM and advanced manufacturing programs, including manufacturing facility tours, gaming activities, project-based learning, and competitions.
“The first year impact of MakerMinded is powerful evidence of the magic that happens when you inspire young people,” said Emily DeRocco, LIFT’s Education and Workforce Director.” “In less than one year, over 2000 students at over 200 schools across Kentucky and Tennessee completed over 1900 STEM programs, gaining foundational technical and employability skills that will poise them for success in the high-tech manufacturing industry.”
The top two schools in Kentucky competed from February through May. These schools will receive Virtual Reality Learning Systems to give their students additional hands-on exposure to STEM and advanced manufacturing technology.
Leading Kentucky Schools were celebrated at a special ceremony at the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers Innovation Summit on June 1.
These schools are:
- Trigg County High School—Trigg County Public Schools (Cadiz, KY)
- Turkey Foot Middle School—Kenton County Schools (Edgewood, KY)
Kentucky Lieutenant Governor, Jenean Hampton, gave out the awards to Kentucky’s winning schools on June 1. “I’m so proud of these students and am excited for their future,” said Lt. Gov. Hampton. “I’m confident their energy, passion, and knack for STEM will translate into talented employees as well as remarkable leaders.”
The 2017-2018 MakerMinded competition in Kentucky and Tennessee will begin in August, 2017. In partnership with Battelle and the Ohio STEM Learning Network, LIFT will launch MakerMinded in Ohio in August7.
For more information, visit MakerMinded.com
Watch a video to discover how MakerMinded works.