As the spring semester wound down, Room to Grow leadership at Highland Community College used two connections to support access to opportunity in the region.
HCC and Northern Illinois University reached an agreement to utilize Room to Grow Grant funds to sponsor northwest Illinois students’ attendance at NIU STEAM camps this July. Eight regional high schoolers are currently registered for weeklong camps focused on topics such as supply chain logistics, engineering, and physics. While there, students will gain face-to-face experience working with academic leaders and industry professionals.
More locally, HCC and the Regional Office of Education 8 are working together to host the region’s first Camp Invention. This camp for K-6 students will feature hands-on challenges to spark curiosity through imagination and experimentation while building STEM confidence. We are excited to hear about participating students’ experiences after their camps and look forward to expanding sponsorship opportunities next year.